How Do Children Spend Time Without Adult Supervision?
We are in a childcare crisis in this country – a crisis that will ultimately effect every American citizen. Approximately 8 million school-aged children under the age of fifteen are left home alone or on the streets after school. This means that four million children between the ages of five and twelve, and four million thirteen and fourteen-year-olds, lack adult supervision on a regular basis. These children represent the future of this country. They have the potential to become leaders, teachers, artists, doctors, and scientists. However, without safe and appropriate care after school, these kids have a greater likelihood of developing behavior problems both in and out of school. They have an increased chance of becoming criminals, victims, drug users, and teenage parents. They also suffer from high rates of accidental injury and death.
Each weekday afternoon in America, the ringing of the bell signals not just the end of the school day, but the beginning of a time when millions of kids are left al
If after school care is so beneficial, what prevents every family from ‘signing up’? One reason is that low-income families cannot afford to pay for even the most basic care. Other barriers include availability, inadequate facilities, transportation, high staff turnover, hours of the program operation, and lack of resources. The changing dynamics of the American family – one parent households or both parents working - have increased the pressure on public schools to provide after school programming. School districts have the ability to fund public schools as community education centers. These centers provide access to homework help, cultural enrichment, and recreational opportunities.
are in day care. Others attend after school programs. In-home providers care for a few. Huge numbers are unsupervised and forced to take care of themselves. Unsupervised children fill their time in a variety of ways. Some watch TV and play video games. Others ‘hang out’ with friends. Unsupervised afternoon hour
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