What is a Latchkey Kid?
There are a significant number of families in which both parents hold jobs outside the home. This can create a few logistical problems where school-age children are concerned. Sometimes a child may remain after school in a supervised program, or a babysitter may be hired to cover the gap between school hours and work hours. Quite often, however, a child may have to spend a few hours without supervision until a parent arrives home. Because this child has his or her own key to the house, he or she is often referred to as a latchkey kid. A latchkey kid may remain unsupervised for a few minutes or possibly a few hours. This does not mean the child is completely at the mercy of would-be intruders, however. Conscientious neighbors may agree to watch the exterior of the home, while the latchkey kid learns how to activate an alarm system or check the door locks. A child spending unsupervised time at home may also call a parent at work to verify his or her safe arrival from school. A typical la
Wikipedia knows everything: A Latchkey kid or latchkey child refers to a child who returns from school to an empty home because his or her parents are away at work or a child who is often left at home with little or no parental supervision. What I recall from most of my childhood memories does not include a parent. Now whether or not a parent was there… that’s another story. ~2 Sorry Cassy. I’m not changing your name. Besides, everyone knows you’re my original partner in crime.
It describes a kid who goes home after school to an empty house. His parents or other caregivers aren’t there (yet), so he has a key to get into the house. I know because I was one myself. My parents didn’t get home til after 5 PM, and school was done at 3-something PM. Edit: It generally refers to school-age children, not high-schoolers.
