Considers solutions that families often use to meet their needs for after-school care: self-care and after-school programs. Describes: (1) the incidence of these care arrangements; (2) familial, child, and community factors related to their use; and (3) the conditions under which these arrangements either support or undermine child development.…

Examined afterschool care for 390 third through fifth graders who were part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Children in the care of single mothers after school had higher ratings for antisocial behaviors, anxiety, and peer conflicts. However, indications of these problems disappeared when analyses controlled for family income and…

Examined the effects of 4 different types of after-school care arrangements (formal after-school programs, mother care, informal adult supervision, and self-care) on 216 children from low-income families. Children who participated in formal after-school programs had higher academic and conduct grades in school and spent less time watching…

Explores outcome differences associated with types of after-school care among third graders from a suburban school system. No differences were found between latchkey and mother-care children. However, significant differences were found for children who attended day care centers after school. (RJC)