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Today, about one third of all school-age children, an estimated five million between ages five and 13, are so-called "latchkey children"... children who care for themselves while parents are at work. In some Phoenix schools, 50 percent of the 3rd and 4th graders are latchkey kids. One third of all complaints to child welfare agencies involve latchkey children.
There is conflicting opinion about the effects of leaving children on their own. Some experts advise against leaving children under the age of 12 on their own. But some children under 12 may be all right on their own for several hours. The two biggest fears facing a young latchkey child are an encounter with an intruder and a parent who doesn't come home on time.
Every child is different, so the maturity and personality of your child should be an important consideration. You need to assess your child's needs and explore the various options available to you. If your child is not mature enough to stay alone, try to arrange for some form of supervision.
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More than 14.3 million children in the US are unsupervised between 3 and 6 p.m. each day... a time in which there is a greater risk for involvement in gangs, crime, drug abuse and other destructive behaviors, according to research conducted by the Afterschool Alliance and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. |
Afterschool programs have been proven not only to decrease involvement in crime and reduce dropout rates, but also to benefit children by raising math and reading performance and improving school attendance.
JCPenney has been working for since 1999 to broaden afterschool opportunities in local communities across the country, and their experts say choosing the right afterschool program means taking the child's interests and various aspects of the program into consideration, including its convenience to the child's home or school, its staff-to-child ratio and the quality of activities offered. Children should look forward to going to the program each afternoon, and programs should provide children with the chance to have fun and feel safe, as well as be challenging and inspiring.
According to the US Department of Education, the best afterschool programs share the following common elements: Goal-setting, strong management and sustainability, quality afterschool staffing, attention to safety, health and nutrition issues, effective partnerships with community-based organizations, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement and youth groups, strong involvement of families, enriching learning opportunities, linkages between school day and afterschool personnel.
In 2006, JCPenney and the National Football League (NFL) once again teamed up for the annual "Take a Player to School" sweepstakes to help increase awareness of the importance of afterschool programming. "The 'Take a Player to School' sweepstakes gives me and my fellow players an opportunity to encourage kids to participate in extracurricular activities, such as football, and afterschool programs because it's proven that these programs provide kids with lasting benefits," said Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and program spokesman Donovan McNabb.
Since 1999, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have contributed more than $50 million to support programs that promote the academic, physical and social development of children in afterschool centers nationwide. The NFL has contributed more than $15 million towards the building and maintaining of afterschool facilities nationwide.
Here are some self-help sites:
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