Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Children's Access and Safety Issues

[The CoHousing Company (coho]

Rob wrote . . .
>
>People with no community experience are often shocked by this, and often
>quietly think that I am irresponsible as a parent if I don't know where my
>kids are at all times. The reality is, I don't have to know, I know for a fact
>my kids are safe, and having fun, and can turn to any other child or adult in
>our neighborhood, at any time, for help. So, I don't have know where my kids
>are to know they are safe.  This is the big difference that community brings
>for parents.
>
>Rob Sandelin
>Sharingwood

Most of my feelings regarding kid's rooms have already been express by
others in this discussion. Yes, you do want a kid's room that is
accoustically separated from the dining----learn from the experience of the
many communities who have lived it.

I was particularly glad to see Rob's comment because I too have found
myself saying. . " I know it sounds like I'm a bad parent but its really
seems ok . . "

The other point on Kid's rooms is understanding the different potential
uses which may actually be different rooms. The experience of many
communities is that the most important space it to have Rompus Room that
does not have to be picked up all the time but is a place the kid's can go
let off steam after dinner on a cold winter night. This is a very different
room from an arts and crafts/projects room or a childcare room which
require much more supervision and generally are not the places you want the
kids to let off steam. Thinking these sorts of ideas thru--a good
programming process-- before you design and built can save you group a lot
of frustrations after move in.

Katie


The CoHousing Company
"Architectural Design and Consulting Services towards the formation of
CoHousing Communities"
email: coho [at] cohousingco.com
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Berkeley, CA 94702