Skip to main content
Log in

Latchkey children and school-age child care: A review of programming needs

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child and Youth Care Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Latchkey children, those children left at home alone when not in school, are increasingly gaining the attention of youth service professionals. Unfortunately, little consistent latchkey research is available by which to guide school-age child care (SACC) program development. In this paper, the authors build upon their research and applied work in the latchkey/SACC field to address issues on which researchers and SACC programmers can work together to increase our understanding of the latchkey phenomenon and contribute to the development of research-based SACC programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander, N.P. (1986). School-age child care: Concerns and challenges.Young Children, 42 (1), 3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Children's Defense fund (1987, July).Opportunities for prevention: Building after-school and summer programs for young adolescents. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, C., & Rodman, H. (1987). When school-age children care for themselves: Issues for family life educators and parents.Family Relations, 36, 92–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, M. (1988).Latchkey children: Teachers taking action. (Classroom activity guide available from Mick Coleman, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, Hoke-Smith Annex, Athens, Ga).

  • Coleman, T. M. (1984).Families with latchkey children: A study with implication for service delivery. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, Athens.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council for Children (1984, April).Taking action for latchkey children. Charlotte, NC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galambos, N. L., & Dison, R. A. (1984). Toward understanding and caring for latchkey children.Child Care Quarterly, 13, 116–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J. (1981). Latchkey children: How much a problem?Education Digest, 46, 14–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, L. (1981).Families strengths and strains at work. Minneapolis, MN: General Mills.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, T. J., & Long, L. (1981).Latchkey children: The child's view of self-care. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 211 229).

  • Long, L., & Long, T. J. (1983a).Latchkey children. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. Ed 226 836).

  • Long, L., & Long, T. J. (1983b).The handbook for latchkey children and their parents. New York: Arbor House.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMurray, G. L., & Kazajian, D. P. (1982).Day care and the working poor: The struggle for self-sufficiency. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service ED No. 221 266).

  • Nieting, P. L. (1983). School-age child care: In support of development and learning.Childhood Education, 60, 6–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, B. E., Rowland, B. H., & Coleman, M. (1986).Latchkey kids: Unlocking doors for children and their families. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, H., & Cole, C. (1987). Latchkey children: A review of policy and resources.Family Relations, 36, 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, H., & Pratto, D. J. (1980).How children take care of themselves: Preliminary statement on magazine survey. Unpublished manuscript, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, H., Pratto, D. J., & Nelson, R. S. (1988). Toward a definition of self-care children: A commentary on Steinberg (1986).Developmental Psychology, 24 (2), 292–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, B. H., Coleman, M., & Robinson, B. E. (1986).School-age child care training package. Charlotte, NC: Council for Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, B. H., Robinson, B. E., & Coleman, M. (1986). A survey of Parents' perceptions regarding latchkey children.Pediatric Nursing, 12, 278–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligson, M., Genser, A., Gannett, E., & Gray, W. (1983, December).School-age child care: A policy report. Wellesley, MA: Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (1988). Simple solutions to a complex problem: A response to Rodman, Pratto, and Nelson (1988).Developmental Psychology, 24 (2), 295–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, M. B. (1972). The unsupervised child of the working mother.Developmental Psychology, 6, 14–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E., & Gordon, E. W. (Eds.), (1982).Day care: Scientific and social policy issues. Boston: Auburn House.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coleman, M., Rowland, B. & Robinson, B. Latchkey children and school-age child care: A review of programming needs. Child Youth Care Forum 18, 39–48 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01086799

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01086799

Keywords

Navigation