Latchkey kids worry parents.

Latchkey children--youngsters caring for themselves at home--is not a new phenomenon. Having mothers in the labor force has become an economic necessity for America. During World War II, women flooded the labor market and the amount of latchkey children grew. Since then, their numbers have continued to increase as females enter and remain in the workforce.

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that two of every three jobs in the next few years will need to be filled by women. By 1995, it is projected that 34,000,000 kids six to 13--more than three-quarters of all those in this age range--will have working mothers.

School personnel report elementary school children sometimes arrive as early as seven a.m. and frequently loiter around school grounds until six p.m. Providing supervision and shelter for these youngsters who have no place to go can cause problems for school principals and teachers.

"Leaving their children unattended is a great concern among parents, even though they may believe that they have no other alternatives," notes Kimberly B. Moore, vice president of education for Children's World Learning Centers. "But there is an alternative. Many more quality before and after school programs are becoming available for children, both within the community and on site at elementary schools."

Parents of latchkey children are especially concerned with their offspring's safety and exposure to dangers, both inside and outside the home...