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From safe playgrounds, to proximity to hospitals and malls, here’s a list of things that make a community kid-friendly.
The Philippines is one of the youngest populations in the world. In fact, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that at least a third of Filipinos are younger than 14 years old, so it goes without saying that our society should be kid-friendly—and it all should start at home.
When married couples start their search for a property, one thing that they always consider is whether the community is conducive to raise kids. They consider the location very carefully, making sure that schools and hospitals are highly accessible from the community, while they spend a great deal of time looking at the community’s amenities, whether they are suitable for small kids.
Of course, not all communities are created equal, that’s why it is extremely important for parents to choose them very carefully. Here’s a list to help parents and homebuyers choose the best kid-friendly community.
1. Ample Living Areas
Different people have different needs. Singletons, for example, can make do with a small in-city condo unit as long as it is within striking distance from offices and malls. For families with small kids, these properties won’t just cut it. Ample living spaces for kids to play and study are all but a necessity nowadays for raising a family.
2. Topnotch Security
Who wouldn’t want a community that takes security seriously? Having security guards man the entrance gates and check the community regularly and CCTV cameras installed at strategic areas may sound a bit luxurious to some but in a densely populated city like Metro Manila, this is some kind of a necessity. Kids, after all, often wander on their own and nothing is more comforting to a parent than knowing that their kids will always be safe within the confines of their community.
3. Schools Are Nearby
One of the foremost considerations parents have when choosing a home is its proximity to quality schools. Given Metro Manila’s horrendous traffic, it is but a necessity for families to live close to where kids are schooled, which overall gives them a higher quality of life. That means little time is wasted on travel, kids could go home immediately after school, and parents are assured that their kids are safe and sound.
4. Amenities Kids Can Safely Use and Enjoy
It is not enough to have a swimming pool and playground within a community or condo estate; these amenities must be designed to be safe for kids as well. For instance, a lifeguard must be present at the pool area at all times, while playgrounds are not just about welded steel jungle gyms and metal slides anymore. Appropriate materials, such as poured rubber or wood fiber, should be used as cushions to avoid injuries during falls. In addition, benches and other shading options should be incorporated to the playground’s design for caretakers’ use.
5. Flood-free
This is perhaps one of the most pressing concerns of people looking for a home, especially now that flooding is increasingly becoming common in Metro Manila. Although a flood-free area may be pricier, it makes a lot of sense to live in one, as it ensures kids’ and families’ safety.
6. Proximity to Healthcare Facilities
As children are very susceptible to common diseases like colds, cough, and flu, it is imperative that homes should have easy access to healthcare facilities as well. Some communities will go as far as having their own health clinics within the development, while others are strategically located close to primary-care hospitals.
7. Close to Malls and Leisure Centers
Filipino families love to go out especially during holidays and weekends, so an ideal community should be situated within short driving distance to shopping malls and other leisure areas. In fact, living in such an area makes plenty of sense, as families with small kids have this constant need to do last-minute shopping, be it for diapers, infant formula, medicines, or groceries.
DMCI Homes was founded in 1999 as the housing division of DMCI, with the aim to build condominiums and house and lots. In a span of a little over a decade, DMCI Homes has built the most comfortable, resort-type communities for urban dwellers, and continues to do so.
