LATCHKEY CHILDREN

Children who are regularly left without adult supervision during a sig nificant portion of the day, referred to as 'latchkey children', are a growing social phenomenon. The main reason for the rising prevalence of latchkey children is the increase in dual income and single parent families. Studies on the effects of the latchkey phenomenon report con flicting results. The potential positive consequences include learning to be independent and responsible. The potential negative consequence s include loneliness, boredom, fear, academic under-achievement, drug and alcohol abuse, accidental injury, and impairment of the parent-chi ld relationship. Such wide variations in reported consequences in latc hkey children might reflect differences in the maturity of the childre n and in the parent-child relationships prior to entering the latchkey arrangement. Counselling parents about the problems associated with a latchkey arrangement, referring children to an after school programme , and teaching children self-help skills might minimise the possibilit y of negative consequences.