So my wife and I have a six-year-old and four-year-old, both of them boys. Only one of them is in school right now. The other one is in daycare/pre-K.
In the main sub, Reddit, and this one, there’s a lot of talk about the “Minnesota nice” — and the sometimes cool reception that adults get/how hard it is to make friends.
I’m curious how Parents who moved with children to Minneapolis have found that their children are treated. Have the other children been fairly welcoming to the new kids, or have you noticed any exclusion?
I’m also curious how your young kids adjusted overall.
I have 3 kids, they love it here have made a lot of friends. I would get them into sports or activities as soon as you can. It'll help break the ice and get you to know people as well. I haven't been shy that we are new and know no one. Everyone has been super kind and even if "Minnesota Nice" is fake as people say, I haven't experienced it. I have met genuinely kind people. Do I have a best friend here, no, but I don't expect to for awhile. I have amazing neighbors who have taken us under their wing and I could not be happier. Good luck to you!
I live in the city, but having kids is the one of the easiest way to build community in Minnesota. So much great family stuff in Minneapolis/Saint Paul. It's possible some suburbs feel clique-y and classes are small so anything can be hit or miss year to year. But my kids elementary years were golden years of meeting new people and getting together with them and trying new things. Especially if you settle into a neigborhood with kids in the same age range.
Im from MN (so my experience may be different) but I lived out of state for many years and had kids out of state before moving back. My childhood friends had mostly left the state or we lost touch. I do have family here though . Ive made a lot of friends with neighbors, who also have kids, and parents from school. About half are from the twin cities and half are from elsewhere. It is more difficult to meet people in the winter. Everyone is hunkered down. Walking around in summer and saying hi to neighbors has gone a long way. Also activities, my wife is in a book club and Im learning to golf etc
I moved here when my kid was going into 8th grade and she has flourished, it’s been the best decision ever. She has made a ton of friends and the kids were welcoming and it was so good
We moved to the south metro when our kid was starting kindergarten and she has done great. She is in an awesome community school that could not be more supportive. Now she is in second grade and is thriving
We moved here about eight months ago not having too many connections here. Everyone we’ve met is super welcoming to our kids. We did a lot of activities and some rec league youth sports over the summer. The parks dept offers a ton of things to do, along with everything else the Cities have to go and do! We met a lot of our neighbors over the summer break and lucked out with some great playmates nearby. Once school started our kids have quickly gotten to know tons of kids from class, or from the bus.
Everyone has been super nice. In part I attribute it to us all being parents, of children roughly the same age, children that are at the age where friendships and ours kids’ independence starts to bud and blossom. Dont worry about the rumors of people being closed off, a lot of us are just finally starting to come out of the social hibernation that were the baby years. And we all want our kids to make connections (if not some new connections ourselves).
The biggest thing to remember is to put yourselves out there. It will take a little time but that’s true with any move. There’s so much to do here all the time. Just don’t forget to say yes to things. If you do the community will quickly greet your family with warmth and acceptance.
Thanks for this great feedback. My family of four with two young kids will likely make the move this spring from Texas. Our biggest concern has been the fact that we have almost no connections up there.
My kids (4, ages toddler through teen) adjusted well, kids here are very open to new friends and it's been really easy for them here in Saint Paul. Adult friendships are the hard part. Been here 2.5 years.