Roadhogbc: I think the issue with bringing up kids in apartments in this country has much to do with climate. A lot of Canadian homes have basements or otherwise sufficient room to allow for indoor activities when the outside weather is inclement. In contrast to many European cities, where kids can go outdoors to play for much of the year, the weather in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, which feature among the mildest of Canadian climates, discourages outdoor activity for about six months of the year.