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…

Reviews research examining the effects of self-care skills training programs on latchkey children's knowledge, behavior, and emotional well-being. Suggests ways in which the findings can be used to improve the quality of self-care instruction and presents directions for future research. (Author/TE)

According to a recent Harris poll, over 50 percent of American teachers believe that the most critical factor undermining school performance is children's being left alone after school. Lack of child care in the U.S. has reached crisis proportions. Twenty-first century schools will need to be dual-purpose and creatively financed. Includes five…

While self care is not always harmful, research finds that when children under 13 are regularly left to spend time alone or to be cared for by young siblings, they may be at risk for injuries and developmental problems. This research brief focuses on two groups of children that may be particularly vulnerable when they lack regular adult…

School-age child care (SACC) is a relatively new social institution, and effective SACC programs must balance academic, recreational, and enrichment needs of child development. Outcomes of a study in two states to review program operations, staffing, activities, community involvement, and evaluation indicate that programs focus on academics and…

Over the past two decades, an increasing number of American children are left in self-care after school each day. Parents of these latchkey children often turn to the library as a safe place for their children to go. The purpose of this study was to determine whether public libraries have responded since 1990 to the call put forward by concerned…

The conference proceedings presented in this report document successful strategies for meeting the child care needs of school-age children and stimulating new ways of thinking about the provision of school-age child care. The first part of the report gives a historical perspective of Maryland's activity in school-age child care. The second part…

Describes Being in Charge, a guidance unit designed to provide intermediate and middle-grade children with the skills to cope more effectively with taking care of themselves while home alone. Discusses format of the sessions, objective and content for each of the six sessions, and evaluates the program as implemented with fifth and sixth graders…

This document presents 17 philosophical statements regarding school-age care programs, staff, and challenges. The essence of school-age care is to understand childhood and to facilitate positive development. Because these programs provide a place where children have significant contact with adults within a multi-age peer group, they can teach…

Noting the need for parents, schools, and community members to work together to meet the needs of unsupervised adolescents during after-school hours, this practicum was designed to address those needs in one middle school. Lack of adolescent after-school supervision was documented by means of a parent interest survey distributed to parents of…

This book for persons interested in setting up high quality school-age child care (SACC) programs: (1) provides background information and a rationale; (2) describes a collaborative model of program development; (3) discusses program funding and resources; (4) considers approaches to recognizing high quality school-age child care; and (5) offers…

Current national concern about increasing numbers of latchkey children has been addressed by policy initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. Educators in many communities are examining what schools can do for children when classes are not in session and parents and other caregivers are unavailable. This manual confronts the legal…

To increase educators' awareness of the plight of latchkey children, this study reviewed literature concerning the negative and positive effects experienced by latchkey children. Also examined were possible solutions to the problem through techniques, guidelines, and existing programs. The first section of the review provides 12 annotated…

For many children, societal changes have restricted the opportunities for and the right to play. Adults deal with these violations of children's right to play by trying to correct problems, preventing future problems, or by denying that problems can or could exist. In order to meet the challenge of preserving children's play rights, we need to be…

Reviews Click's book, which explains the development of children during middle childhood; discusses the role of the many individuals involved in a child care facility; introduces developmentally appropriate practices and programs for cultural and linguistic diversity; and describes how to implement a variety of activities. Finds that despite…