Children who stay home alone, either for a few hours after school during the school year or for the summer months, are commonly referred to as "latchkey children."
The phrase "latchkey" originates from the early 19th century, when children in a similar situation would wear the key to their home tied to a string they wore around their neck and were responsible for their own care.
Families living on one income is a rarity, making it almost unperceivable to think of a parent being home on a daily basis to greet their child when he/she comes home from
school. The birth of the two income household was the beginning of the Latch Key Kid.
Many parents are forced into this situation due to various reasons. One of the most common reasons is when a child becomes too old for a babysitter, usually when they
become a preteen.
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