10 Reasons Why Small Town Arkansas Is The Best Place To Grow Up
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Tiffany
Author
The charm of a small town has a lot of appeal with Arkansas residents. City life is OK, but there’s a certain magic about the smaller locations that evoke memories of happier, simpler times when kids could play outside and be safe. Growing up in a small town has its own special qualities. From personal experience, my days growing up and making friends in Sheridan are memories that are dear to me. It’s that small town charm–and there are always a few things you’ll appreciate about it!
One benefit to growing up in a little town in Arkansas is that you don't have to sit in a class full of kids, and you don't feel like just a number. Classes in bigger towns such as Little Rock are maxed out at 30--and sometimes more students than that in a middle school classroom.
There's a lot less to worry about when you grow up in a small town as opposed to being a city kid. Of course, crime is going to be everywhere, but a child who grows up in southwest Little Rock probably doesn't feel as secure about taking an evening walk with friends as opposed to a child growing up in Star City or Mountain View.
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This all depends on what Arkansas small town you live in, actually. If you live up in the hills, learning how to drive can be an adventure. Otherwise, lucky you, new small town driver, the roads are usually in your favor when learning how to keep it between the lines. There's less traffic to worry about than in the big cities, but that doesn't mean you still don't have to keep your hands on the wheel and your attention on the road.
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When you don't have to worry about growing up with the stresses that come from city life--such as bigger populations and more kids to warehouse in schools--you get to experience school the way it's supposed to be experienced. Kids who grow up in small Arkansas towns get to hone their imaginations in the smaller-sized classrooms. Since small town kids feel less like a number and more like an individual, their creative juices have a chance to flow.
This is a big benefit when you're growing up and learning directions. Small town life is easy life when it comes to knowing how to get from point A (such as home) to point B (such as school or the grocery store). What's even nicer is when you come back decades later and the roads still lead to all the same locations.
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There's something really special about living in a small town that keeps you grounded no matter where you go in life. When you think of the many Arkansans who have gone on to see success on the sports field or in the entertainment industry, you'll notice how humble they are. No matter how many accolades or awards are given, a small town Arkansas native will always remember where he or she started.
It's not a strange sight to see Arkansas residents so satisfied with the life they grew up with that they never decide to move elsewhere. That special charm about living in a little part of the world enchants a lot of Arkansas kids to stay where they grew up and teach their own children about the glories of being from a small town.
You know the story if you grew up in a small town; the community grapevine is incredibly sweet for parents. If you've done wrong in the city, it's between you, the school, and your parents. If you got in trouble in a small town in Arkansas, everybody and your second cousin all the way over in Texas will know your business by the time you get home from school...and you still have to deal with your parents.
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The smaller the town, the stronger the community. When you grow up in an Arkansas small town, people see you more often. They get to know you as a neighbor and as a member of local service groups. If the communication is open enough, you have a solid support system of friends just right down the street or a block away to help out when needed.
It's pretty nice to make friends when you live in a small Arkansas town as a kid. Your friends are usually just a bike ride away and you don't have to travel all the way from West Little Rock to Jacksonville for a slumber party like some kids in the city. You usually keep up with one another throughout life as you get older too, because you shared the same small-town experiences with your old school buddies.
These reasons are just some of many in support of growing up in an Arkansas small town. In your opinion, do small town kids nowadays have it better than when you were growing up? How do you think small town kids will fare in today’s hectic society when they’re ready to leave the nest and maybe fly to other destinations? Sound off in the comments!
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