Recent hard economic times have necessitated many parents to work long hours and sometimes hold more than one job to make ends meet. These busy schedules often are at the expense of their children who are left unattended and unsupervised for long periods. They learn to take care of themselves after and before school as well as during school vacations. They often rarely see their guardians sometimes for days. These kids are referred to as latch key children and generally range between ages five up to thirteen.
Research indicates that kids from higher income families on average spend more time alone as compared to the rest of the families. This is because these parents feel that their neighborhoods are safer than other areas. In addition, these homes are fitted with state of the art security systems. Single-parents households also have many kids spending time alone at home. This tends to have many different effects.
Many young children left unattended and unsupervised suffer from loneliness, fear and boredom. They spend a better part of the afternoon and early evening alone as their parents work. To pass the time, many of them watch a lot of television at the expense of their studies or homework. This results to bad performances at school and in exams. In addition, they risk becoming socially awkward.
In the case of teenagers, they often result to social evils like smoking, drinking, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and theft. One of the main reasons that lead to this is peer pressure with other being unspent energy, attention seeking and hostility. Those who stay after school with friends instead of going home are more prone to these undesirable behaviors.
Fortunately, not everyone who is left alone ends up engaging in self-disruptive. Some of them acquire good attributes like self-reliance, adapting to hardships and other difficult behaviors as well as maturity. Often they help at home looking after other siblings, cook, clean the house and look for jobs to do.
Some parents prefer to leave their kids at the public library especially in the afternoon before they pick them up in the evening. They sometimes spend up to three hours alone passing time. However, this is highly discouraged. Other parents leave them with babysitters who are mostly teenagers. This can also result in negative behavior. Ideally it is considered better to leave children home alone than with babysitters.
As regards legal issues concerning latchkey kids, many states and countries have set minimum ages under which children cannot be left unsupervised. In the US, many states have set their own age limits while others do not have a distinct age. However, child welfare organizations and law enforcement can hold parents accountable for harm caused due to neglect and lack of supervision.
Many schools offer after school programs and co-curricular activities as well as sports. This is a perfect opportunity for parents to utilize as an alternative. Similarly, they can sign up for the community calling programs in their neighborhoods.
Research indicates that kids from higher income families on average spend more time alone as compared to the rest of the families. This is because these parents feel that their neighborhoods are safer than other areas. In addition, these homes are fitted with state of the art security systems. Single-parents households also have many kids spending time alone at home. This tends to have many different effects.
Many young children left unattended and unsupervised suffer from loneliness, fear and boredom. They spend a better part of the afternoon and early evening alone as their parents work. To pass the time, many of them watch a lot of television at the expense of their studies or homework. This results to bad performances at school and in exams. In addition, they risk becoming socially awkward.
In the case of teenagers, they often result to social evils like smoking, drinking, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and theft. One of the main reasons that lead to this is peer pressure with other being unspent energy, attention seeking and hostility. Those who stay after school with friends instead of going home are more prone to these undesirable behaviors.
Fortunately, not everyone who is left alone ends up engaging in self-disruptive. Some of them acquire good attributes like self-reliance, adapting to hardships and other difficult behaviors as well as maturity. Often they help at home looking after other siblings, cook, clean the house and look for jobs to do.
Some parents prefer to leave their kids at the public library especially in the afternoon before they pick them up in the evening. They sometimes spend up to three hours alone passing time. However, this is highly discouraged. Other parents leave them with babysitters who are mostly teenagers. This can also result in negative behavior. Ideally it is considered better to leave children home alone than with babysitters.
As regards legal issues concerning latchkey kids, many states and countries have set minimum ages under which children cannot be left unsupervised. In the US, many states have set their own age limits while others do not have a distinct age. However, child welfare organizations and law enforcement can hold parents accountable for harm caused due to neglect and lack of supervision.
Many schools offer after school programs and co-curricular activities as well as sports. This is a perfect opportunity for parents to utilize as an alternative. Similarly, they can sign up for the community calling programs in their neighborhoods.
About the Author:
When you are looking for the facts about latch key children, go to our web pages online here today. More details can be seen at http://ourbrightlink.com now.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire