Today many American parents lead a hectic lifestyle with busy schedules throughout the week. This also includes weekends. Owing to these developments, many kids are usually left unattended and alone for long periods after school, before school and during the holidays. This can be because parents are extremely busy at work and often leave early in the morning and come back late at night. The term latch key children refer to children between five and thirteen years old who are used to taking care of themselves daily without any adult supervision.
Recent research has indicated that those kids who belong to higher income families are more likely to be left on their own by guardians compared to other type of families. The main reason is such parents are confident that the neighborhoods they reside in are safe and secure. They also fit their homes with good security systems that keep burglars and intruders away. Other families that leave children for long periods unattended are single parent homes.
Younger children left unsupervised after school often feel bored, fearful and lonely. This is because they spend many hours alone while parents are working. They result to watching television programs and cartoons for hours in a bid to pass time. They will rarely do homework or study resulting in poor class work and exam results. Furthermore, many of them will develop social awkwardness and prefer to stay aloof.
Teenagers react differently to being left unsupervised by guardians. They are prone to indulge in behaviors like smoking, drug abuse, theft, alcohol abuse and sexual promiscuity. Common reasons that lead to these acts are peer pressure, hostility, unspent energy and desire to seek attention. Teens who decide to hang out with their friends after school face higher risk of bad behaviors, acting out and getting into trouble.
However, not all kids left alone for long periods end up indulging in bad behaviors. Some acquire some positive attributes such as early maturity, being self-reliant, being able to adapt to hard or difficult situations as well as a desire to positively contribute to a certain need at home. This includes taking care of younger siblings, cooking, seeking a job to help with finances and cleaning.
Some parents prefer to leave their kids at the public library especially in the afternoon before they pick them up in the evening. They sometimes spend up to three hours alone passing time. However, this is highly discouraged. Other parents leave them with babysitters who are mostly teenagers. This can also result in negative behavior. Ideally it is considered better to leave children home alone than with babysitters.
Legal issues surrounding latchkey kids defer from state to state in terms of the minimum age for leaving them unsupervised. Each state has set own limits while others have not specified. However, any harm that befalls one due to negligence will attract the attention of law enforcement and child welfare organizations.
Many schools offer after school programs and co-curricular activities as well as sports. This is a perfect opportunity for parents to utilize as an alternative. Similarly, they can sign up for the community calling programs in their neighborhoods.
Recent research has indicated that those kids who belong to higher income families are more likely to be left on their own by guardians compared to other type of families. The main reason is such parents are confident that the neighborhoods they reside in are safe and secure. They also fit their homes with good security systems that keep burglars and intruders away. Other families that leave children for long periods unattended are single parent homes.
Younger children left unsupervised after school often feel bored, fearful and lonely. This is because they spend many hours alone while parents are working. They result to watching television programs and cartoons for hours in a bid to pass time. They will rarely do homework or study resulting in poor class work and exam results. Furthermore, many of them will develop social awkwardness and prefer to stay aloof.
Teenagers react differently to being left unsupervised by guardians. They are prone to indulge in behaviors like smoking, drug abuse, theft, alcohol abuse and sexual promiscuity. Common reasons that lead to these acts are peer pressure, hostility, unspent energy and desire to seek attention. Teens who decide to hang out with their friends after school face higher risk of bad behaviors, acting out and getting into trouble.
However, not all kids left alone for long periods end up indulging in bad behaviors. Some acquire some positive attributes such as early maturity, being self-reliant, being able to adapt to hard or difficult situations as well as a desire to positively contribute to a certain need at home. This includes taking care of younger siblings, cooking, seeking a job to help with finances and cleaning.
Some parents prefer to leave their kids at the public library especially in the afternoon before they pick them up in the evening. They sometimes spend up to three hours alone passing time. However, this is highly discouraged. Other parents leave them with babysitters who are mostly teenagers. This can also result in negative behavior. Ideally it is considered better to leave children home alone than with babysitters.
Legal issues surrounding latchkey kids defer from state to state in terms of the minimum age for leaving them unsupervised. Each state has set own limits while others have not specified. However, any harm that befalls one due to negligence will attract the attention of law enforcement and child welfare organizations.
Many schools offer after school programs and co-curricular activities as well as sports. This is a perfect opportunity for parents to utilize as an alternative. Similarly, they can sign up for the community calling programs in their neighborhoods.
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