Latchkey child is a term used to describe children left at home with little or no parental supervision, referring to the "latch key" to the door strung around their necks. Latchkey children have been found to have exaggerated fears, loneliness and depression, and poor academic achievement[1] (http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/mcca/00001_en.htm).
Laws in different areas describe when children are legally allowed to be left "home alone".
Called "latchkey kids" because of the telltale key around their neck or in their pocket, they are usually children of a single parent home or a home in which both parents work.
Factors such as the amount of time the child will be alone, the accessibility of a parent or another adult in case of emergency and how safe the neighborhood is, should also be taken into consideration.
It is recommended that when an older child is left in charge, all children in the family should be instructed about self-care and be made individually responsible rather than relying on the oldest child to carry responsibility for the others.
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