A child who must spend part of the day unsupervised at home while his parents are working.

The term "latchkey children" was coined by the media to refer to children who wore a housekey around their necks for safekeeping. Other names for this group of children have included "children in self-care," "children of working parents," "unsupervised children," or "children on their own." However, none of these labels offers an unprejudiced description of the situation experienced by children who are at home when a parent is absent.

The need for child care after school is a relatively new phenomena. In the 1960s, only 19% of mothers with school-aged children were employed full-time. By the 1980s, 60% of such mothers were employed and the numbers continue to grow. Despite this trend, society has not yet provided a set of clear expectations about parental supervision and its importance. In the United...