Twelve to 14 percent of American children ages 5 to 12 spend some time home alone after school, a new study has found, but the period without adult supervision averages only an hour, most of the children are older, and many seem to welcome a measure of privacy and independence. Eating, going to the bathroom and watching television are the first three things children do when they get home, the study found. And a little time alone may not be such a bad thing given working families' hectic schedules and children's super-structured lives, suggested Dr. Sandra L. Hofferth, the study's lead researcher. Often, she said, older children used their time alone to read, study and simply decompress. Whether the parent is away for dinner or on an extended business trip, this book has a blueprint for every working parent to follow.
Some bullies simply enjoy wielding power.
That's especially so for strong kids with aggressive reaction patterns and a lack of empathy. As many know firsthand, there are a large number of grandparents raising their grandchildren today. The most common reasons their adult-children have abandoned their children are either from circumstances surrounding divorce or from drug or alcohol abuse. In the loving interest of grandchildren, many grandparents step in, taking full responsibility for their grandchildren's health and well-being. Any alternative is unthinkable.