Passage 2

Most single parents work outside the home; and in many two-parent families, both parents work. Unless working parents have been lucky enough to arrange a flexible schedule that allows them to be home when their children are not in school, they are not available to care for their children during the period immediately after school. The result is children of all ages being left to care for themselves after school. Young children in these families have been referred to as latchkey kids because they carry their own house key.

Older students are more likely to care for themselves after school. Parents provide supervision (监管) after school for over half of the students in grades K-5. Other children stay with adults other than their parents, attend center-based programs, or take part in extracurricular activities (课外活动) such as sports, arts, or clubs. Children in poverty are slightly more likely to stay with relatives than other children; they are also less likely to care for themselves after school than children in families with higher incomes.

One-fifth of the children in kindergarten through fifth grade attend after-school programs in centers or schools with adult supervision and guidance on first aid, nutrition, health, homework, and being on their own at home. These programs are sometimes available at the child’s school, or they may be organized by local houses in cooperation with community groups. Young children may learn how to get home from school safely, how to use the telephone and be familiar with emergency telephone numbers, what to do in case of fire, how to deal with strangers, and how to use their time wisely. Often parents must pay a fee for their children to take part in such programs. Unfortunately, some families cannot afford the cost of such care.

Educators should be aware of the realities faced by children left alone after school. Children are sometimes frightened to be at home alone, especially when they have no brothers or sisters. The process of traveling from school to home can be dangerous and frightening in neighborhoods where drugs are being sold and peers (同龄人) are encouraging one another to misbehave. Television often becomes the babysitter, providing children with the opportunity to learn from educational programs—or from programs unsuitable for children. In most cases, children are thankful for caring adults who can provide supervision and assistance.

The main topic of the passage is _________.