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<br /> ' ' ifteen years ago, the phrase dren, many of them in conjunction The program is run in coopera-
<br /> schools.These programs tion with the Cincinnati School
<br /> '=-� "latchkey children" didn't e
<br /> x-
<br /> with local
<br /> and duringBoard, in eight different schools
<br /> - ist.The number of two-career are offered after er school
<br /> families was much smaller than it is holidays and vacations, and their and recreation areas. I
<br /> today,and few children came home number is growing. "This year we added two new
<br /> to an
<br /> house.To
<br /> - This doesn't mean that the num- sites," said District Director Gary
<br /> from schoolEducation
<br /> emptyof
<br /> notgrow- Vaught. "The Board
<br /> from ber of latchkeychildren is g
<br /> number has grown
<br /> he II
<br /> day that
<br /> few to many;six-to 12-year-old chil- ing as well; the most recent U.S. wants to do a needs survey sot y
<br /> dren are often the first ones home Census determined that there are can determine where to add more
<br /> now, letting themselves in with approximately two to six million programs. We have more demand
<br /> their own house keys (hence the children in self-care in the United than space;we're trying to open at
<br /> name "latchkey"). States today. Teachers report the least one new site each year."
<br /> How does this phenomenon growing phenomenon as one of Cincinnati's latchkey program
<br /> affect children?Parents are rightful- their top problems; latchkey chil- now serves approximately 600 chil-
<br /> ly concerned that being home alone dren sometimes have poor atten- dren, with 39 part-time and eight
<br /> poses a danger to children, or that tion spans and trouble keeping up full-time s staff.
<br /> f the
<br /> either
<br /> are
<br /> •they may be missing out on some with their homework. g
<br /> part of normal childhood develop- Obviously,the issue is an impor- elementary education or recreation
<br /> one,
<br /> and one that merits contin- programs.The program supports it-
<br /> ment.The media often reports them tant ne
<br /> as fearful or lonely,or overly reliant ued attention. The following pro- self through fees and recreation de-
<br /> on television for entertainment. grams are helping eliminate the partment salaries.
<br /> Some children do get into trouble negative aspects of self-care. They
<br /> "I would encourage departments
<br /> when left alone—trouble of their have a common thread—they all in- that are starting a program like this
<br /> own making, or trouble from an corporate a community school sys- to have enough money to run it for
<br /> outside source—but many children tem or recreation department, and three years," said Vaught. "It takes
<br /> in this situation are happily in- often both.These programs are just that long to get it going. The best
<br /> dependent, learning responsibility a small representation of what's promotion is word-of-mouth, and
<br /> and self-reliance. available,and should give you some that doesn't happen in the first year.
<br /> So the situation is a mixed one; idea of how to begin a program of Also,it helps to have a good working
<br /> leaving children home alone during your own, if your community is in relationsheducation and the twith he board
<br /> io of
<br /> the day may be a solution for work- need. division—they can help set up bus
<br /> ing parents, but often it is not the stops to pick upand drop off kids,
<br /> ideal solution.The following article CINCINNATI, OH and generally help things run more
<br /> "Latchkey Children: Meeting the
<br /> Need in Tennessee" outlines a rec- The Cincinnati Recreation Com- smoothly."
<br /> reation program in Jackson, Ten- mission has been running before-
<br /> nessee that is an alternative,and this and after-school daycamps for WASHINGTON, D.C.
<br /> program is only one of many. In a elementary school children for the
<br /> random questioning of park and past four years. For a fee of $10 to The Washington, D.C. public
<br /> • recreation departments around the $16 (depending on area), children school system runs PhoneFriend, a
<br /> country, we found that quite a few aged six to 12 can participate in arts hotline for children who are home
<br /> have programs for school-age chil- and crafts, sports and field trips. alone after school.Like Cincinnati's
<br /> P&R/FEBRUARY 1988/49
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