Child self care

Child self care is where children (usually those under 14) are given, or take, responsibility for their own care without adult supervision. In some cultures this can be all day while adult carers are at work while in other cultures it means usually before and after the school day.

Sometimes called Latchkey children referring to the "latch key" to the door strung around their necks, they have been found to have exaggerated fears, loneliness and depression, and poor academic achievement.

Laws in different areas describe when children are legally allowed to be left "home alone".

External link

 * American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "Home Alone Children"