Discusses various school-age child care options: self-care, telephone help lines; neighborhood check-in programs, youth activities; family day care, and after-school child care programs. (JOW)

Children who may have to care for themselves need to be taught responsibility at an early age. Daily routines that will accustom young children to after-school routines and develop organizational skills should be established. Safety and security precautions are addressed. These include "what if" games that prepare children for the…

Illustrates how one mother and her 10-year-old son worked out a latchkey arrangement for after school. (PCB)

This ERIC Digest provides an overview of school-age child care (SACC) programs and suggests reasons for their growth. Discussion points out that escalating interest in SACC has paralleled the raising numbers of children left on their own, and that educators are only the latest in a parade of civic and professional groups which have gone on record…

Discusses the library's responsibility toward children, including the development of literacy skills, the use of public libraries by latchkey children, and increased demands for youth library services. The need for children's services now to improve the outlook for adult services later is examined, and suggestions for non-children's services…

Describes a survey of public libraries that examined the phenomenon of latchkey children. Findings discussed include the estimated number of latchkey children in public libraries, effects on the library, library policies, and services provided and recommended for latchkey children. Specific recommendations to help public libraries clarify their…

The long hours that latchkey children are alone make them sexually vulnerable and provide them with increased opportunities to participate in sexual activity. Their sexual development is as likely influenced by peers, older siblings, television, movies, and books as by their parents. (IAH)

Describes development of a program at the public library in Seaside, California, that offers afterschool homework assistance. Tips on funding, staffing, publicity, services, future plans, and evaluation are provided, and the benefits of this program for latchkey children are considered. (MES)

Schools need to initiate changes that will aid latchkey parents. Three conditions which need to be addressed are: school personnel's attitude about single parents, accessibility of school personnel to the working adult, and availability of guidance facilities for the student and parent. Programs and modifications in daily classroom operations are…

In an emergency response to the recent spree of school shootings, a group of experts came together to draft a national action plan on school violence and children. Participants included: almost 60 members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Leadership; several mayors from communities which had recently experienced school shootings; police chiefs;…

Describes policies and services developed by public libraries to deal with the needs of both latchkey children and unattended adolescents. Issues addressed include students' rights to recreational activities, community involvement in library programs, patron conduct and supervision, and balancing the needs of all library patrons. (CLB)

Due to working parents, unsafe home conditions, and mass-media pressures, schools are becoming increasingly involved with providing child care for school-age children. While afterschool care poses a number of design, funding, and equity problems, schools and communities can resolve them to the great benefit of the children served. (MLH)

Discusses the social consequences of children left at home unsupervised by adults, particularly by their mothers. Highlights the effects on children of having employed or single mothers: lack of sufficient interaction with parents, low academic achievement, substance use, and violence. Suggests the need for a new look at the social construction of…

Although children left at home without adult supervision may function very well, studies have shown potential problems with self-care and latchkey children. This study investigated the attitudes of 30 employed parents in New York whose first or third grade children were regularly left home alone after school. The 20-question survey covered such…

Discusses ways that school media specialists can address the needs of latchkey children and at-risk students. A total of 21 resources providing background information and suggestions for dealing with the issues involved are listed. (MES)