QUESTION : Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city . Include specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
I totally disagree with the idea that growing up in rural area rather than urban area would be better for children. Although the countryside seems to be an ideal place for some people to raise their kids because of its tranquility and peacefulness, a large city definitely provide children with much better conditions to develop. There are two reasons why I feel this way.
First, children will have the opportunity to visit a great number of fascinating places. In a city, there are hundreds of appealing sites that serve a wide range of purposes such as education, entertainment and so on. Exploring these places not only give them pleasure but also help them acquire a great deal of knowledge. When I was a small child, my dad usually took me to the art museum near the city center. I still remember feeling extremely excited and couldn’t keep my eyes off gorgeous paintings and sculptures displayed there. The huge fountain and some monuments placed outdoors were also impressive. Learning about the history of these art works and the message that they send to viewers really open my mind. If I lived in the countryside, I would never be able to experience such wonderful things.
Second, urban environment creates a chance for kids to meet a variety of people and cultures. As people from all walks of life move to the city with a view to seeking better job opportunities, it is likely that the city is packed with all types of people from diverse background, which enable kids to get to know more about the outside world. My cousin is a prime example of this. He lives in downtown Tokyo, a bustling city of Japan. He told me that there were not only Japanese but also many foreigners from China, Singapore, France, Russia, India and so on coming to live and work in Tokyo. Growing up in a multicultural environment, he was exposed to many different customs, lifestyles and languages from an early age. That’s the reason why he has broad extensive knowledge about many countries around the world and is fluent in three languages. Moreover, the more he learned about different people and cultures, the more he understands, respects and appreciates them.
In conclusion, raising children in a large city is undoubtedly the optimal choice for parents since it not only enables kids to visit and learn about fascinating sites but also offer them the chance to encounter people from diverse background, which could be an enormous help to them in the future.