The booklet is based on information from a 1984 conference on school-age latchkey children (those who take care of themselves during the out-of-school hours). An introduction notes controversies in terminology and focuses the discussion on what self-care means to the experiences of childhood. The first two chapters discuss the impact that having parents in the workforce has on children, summarize the number of children in self-care, and discuss risks and benefits. The next two chapters look at help available to parents considering self-care. Formal, adult-supervised programs are described along with other types of help. The final chapter discusses what citizens and community leaders can do at local, state, and national levels. (CL)