15 January, 2013

By VIVA Team

The Costa del Sol: home of happy families

The economy may be fractured, and various autonomous regions might want to go it alone, but in terms of family unity, Spain comes out on top.

A consensus commissioned by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation (OEC), called the Stability League Table, has found that 91.5 per cent of children in Spain live with both their natural parents. In the developed world, only Finland and Greece can top that.

Strong family values, a conservative approach to married life and a society that looks out for one another have helped create the perfect environment for children. By comparison, the UK ranked 27th, with just two-thirds of children under the age of 14 living with both their natural mother and father.

“Spain is a country that really values family life, and marriage is still considered important,” said a spokesperson for the OEC. “The older generations have passed down their values to the younger ones who then strive to create a stable home life for their children.”

And the even better news is that – like a good diet and endearingly erratic driving habits – these Spanish sensibilities can rub off on all who live here.

So why exactly is Spain, and the Costa del Sol in particular, great for kids…?

The climate

Your own childhood photos are likely proof that kids are more than content to splash around chilly rockpools and charge around windswept British beaches in nothing more than a swimsuit and 18 degree heat. The point being: kids don’t care whether it’s 15 degrees, 20 degrees or 30 degrees.

But you do. And the more clement the weather, the more frequent the beach visits. And beach visits generally equal good quality family time. What’s more, the winter months are still conducive to outdoor pursuits, which means that kids in Spain are active all year round, even in the rather shallow ‘depths’ of winter. Such activity is excellent for their motor development, health and – if Rafael Nadal and the Spanish football team are anything to go by – sporting prowess, too.

The cuisine

Children are notoriously fussy eaters. Parents face a continuous battle to get them eating healthily and happily, and in the UK that task is made even harder by the ubiquity of fast food outlets, the clever pervasiveness and persuasiveness of the big supermarkets, and the peer pressure that comes from all of this.

That’s not to say that these things don’t exist in Spain, but their presence is more muted. Culturally, supermarkets still treat their customers as mini chefs, not time-starved worker bees seeking the nearest ‘Grab and Go’ aisle. Their shelves are crammed with raw ingredients, fresh fruit and veg, good cuts of meat, ie, materials you need to create the perfect, healthy family meal.

Eating out

You will eat out a lot in Spain. Because of the choice, certainly. Because it’s cheap, undoubtedly. Because it’s largely delicious, most definitely. But also because no Spanish restaurant worth its salt will ever turn away families, or make things difficult for those with children in tow.

In fact, it’s the opposite – Spaniards famously adore children, and Spanish waiting staff in particular seem bitten by the baby bug. Children are fawned over, pandered to, catered for perfectly – it can even seem a little overwhelming at first for families more used to the ‘seen but not heard’ mantra that’s so prevalent in the UK. But it will quickly feel normal, cherished, and the only way to do things.

Excellent education and healthcare

The Costa del Sol is blessed with some of Spain’s best international schools and hospitals. British children educated in Spain are likely to grow up bilingual, confident and highly educated. Sure, the job situation for Spanish youth looks in a bad state currently, but a young Briton armed with fluency in English and Spanish stands a very good chance of gainful employment in a number of European countries.

And the best thing is, they will likely grow up with an outward-looking, inquisitive mentality, which is sure to set them in good stead. As will the top-notch free healthcare.

Family attractions

All ages are catered for throughout the Costa del Sol. There are water parks, safari parks, nature parks, activity parks, beaches – you name it, if it’s child-friendly and fun, it can be found on the Costa del Sol.

These are just a few examples of why Spain is great for families and children. There are sure to be hundreds of more subtle, intangible reasons why the Costa del Sol is the ideal place in which to raise a family.

So what have we missed? Why do YOU think the Costa del Sol is perfect for children? Let us know below!