 | ||
|
| |    Self-Care (Latchkey) Arrangements by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. For many families, the option of having a parent at home every afternoon is unrealistic. A high-quality, affordable after-school program is a good alternative, if you're lucky enough to have one in your community, and there are other worthwhile options as well. Latchkey arrangements have gotten a bad name, but it is possible for children to have a good experience with self-care. Here are some considerations to help you decide if this is a good option for your child: At what age are children able to care for themselves? In many places the law sets a lower limit under which children can be considered to be neglected, usually age seven or eight. A sensible eight-year-old should be fine for a half hour or so once in a while, but most children won't be mature enough to manage alone on a regular basis until ten or eleven. Look for these signs:
While some studies have shown negative psychological and educational effects, other studies have disagreed. Among urban children in first through sixth grade, for example, many who were alone after school had fears and nightmares, some even to the point of hiding in the closet. But in a different study, young self-care children in the suburbs reported only mild fears, and overall many said that they "loved" or "liked" self-care. On the whole, children in self-care do not get poorer grades, have poorer relationships with peers, or suffer from lower self-esteem. One concern involves siblings caring for each other. School-age children may be able to take care of themselves well, but may not provide adequate supervision for younger siblings. Another problem that shows up consistently in research is risk-taking by preteens and teens in self-care after school. Unsupervised hours after school are a prime time for experimentation with cigarettes, alcohol, other harmful substances, and sex. What about my child? While the studies show certain trends, they can't tell you what self-care might mean for any particular child. Children who are sensible, self-sufficient, and confident, who live in safe environments, and who are well prepared may do fine on their own. Other children may be able to handle smaller amounts of self-care. It's wise, if possible, to start slowly and work your way up. The next articles give specific suggestions for things you can do to help make self-care a positive experience for your family.
| |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
