Among Latchkey Children Problems: Insufficient Day-care Facilities, Data on Possible Harm

Abstract

ALTHOUGH infant day care has stimulated much research, publicity, and controversy, when the number of children affected is considered, this type of care is not that which is most needed. Two thirds of the need for child care is for school-aged children. Unfortunately, supply has not kept up with demand, forcing many families to leave their children alone for a few hours after school. The estimates of the number of these "latchkey children" range from 2 million to 10 million children nationwide. <h3>Are There Adverse Effects?</h3> Like infant day care, parents and researchers wonder if the latchkey arrangement is harmful to children. Although much less research has been done in this area, that which does exist "kind of looks like infant day care. There's one group that says it's awful to be a latchkey kid.... [Others] don't find negative psychological consequences," comments Edward Zigler, PhD, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Yale