Which of the following statements describes young children who care for themselves before and after school?

• A. They are less socially competent and obtain lower scores on achievement tests.
• B. They are more socially competent and obtain higher scores on achievement tests.
• C. They show no difference in achievement.
• D. They attend school more regularly.

Answer: (A)

Young children who care for themselves before and after school, often called latchkey kids, typically have less adult supervision during a crucial time for social and academic development. With fewer guided social interactions and less structured time for homework or learning activities, they have fewer opportunities to practice positive social skills and to receive encouragement or help with schoolwork. Over time, this can translate into lower social competence and smaller gains on achievement tests. The other possibilities—being more socially competent, showing no difference, or attending school more regularly—don’t align as closely with the patterns seen in research on self-care after school, where reduced supervision is linked to those challenges.