Do You Have Latchkey Kids?

I guess we should start by getting the definition of “Latchkey Kids.” The term refers to the latchkey of a door to a house. The key is often strung around the child's neck or left hidden under a mat (or some other object) at the rear door to the property. The term is claimed to have originated from an NBC documentary in 1944, due to the phenomenon of children being left home alone becoming common during and after World War II, when one parent would be enlisted into the armed forces, so the other would have to get a job. 

In general, the term latchkey designates "those children between the ages of five and thirteen who care for themselves after the school day until their parents or guardians return home."

According to census data in 2011, over 4 million children were left without supervision for more than 6 hours every week on average.

Children from lower income families are associated with greater externalizing issues (such as conduct disorders and hyperactivity) and academic problems, while children from middle class and upper class income families are no different to their supervised peers. In 2000, a German PISA study found no significant differences in the scholastic performance between "latchkey kids" and kids in a "nuclear family."

Positive effects of being a latchkey child include independence and self-reliance at a young age. Deborah Belle, author of The After-School Lives of Children: Alone and With Others While Parents Work suggests that being left home alone may be a better alternative to staying with baby-sitters or older siblings.

Many parents feel more secure using touch pad entry locks so their child doesn’t have to worry about losing their key.

The good news is that advancements in security technology can give parents tremendous peace-of-mind about their latchkey kid's.

Many of us have to work until four or five in the evening, or even later. Sometimes our afternoon schedules keep us away from home longer than we would like. 

While the addition of the latest security technology to your existing security system is a great security solution to ensure the safety of your latchkey kid, one of the best ways to keep your child safe is by teaching them some good old-fashioned common sense. The good news is that there are several lessons we can teach our children to ensure their safety during those after school hours, with or without a home security system.

Need special locks for your children’s safety? Call 35th Ave Locksmith at 602-242-5429.

Are you looking for a one-stop locksmith shop? Yes, we have safe for your home and business. A quick visit to 35thavelocksmith.com can help solve all of your locksmith needs. We are a family owned and operated locksmith company in Phoenix Arizona. Our company is over 30 years old and at its heart is a certified locksmith.

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