America After 3 PM: National Survey Shows How Kids Spend After-School Hours

The statistic is alarming--42,819 5-year-olds totalling 1 percent of all kindergartners--are home alone to take care of themselves after school. America After 3 PM, the first of its kind national household survey on how kids spend after school hours, found that in communities across America, 14.3 million children take care of themselves. Only 11 percent are in after-school programs, although survey results indicate many more families would participate if they could afford them or find suitable programs in their community. The study was commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance with funding from the JCPenney Afterschool Fun. Interested in reading more?