Children's Appraisal of Home and Neighborhood Risks

Questions for the 1990s

Abstract

An increasing number of children spend their out-of-school hours away from adult supervision. Removed from the protective filter of adult guidance and control, "latchkey" children are on their own in appraising potential harm or risk in their home and neighborhood environments. Despite the importance of this task, there has been very little discussion of, or research concerning, the factors that may influencehildren's risk appraisals in daily life. This article highlights some contemporary issues that may influencehildren's environmental risk appraisals, offers a conceptual framework for examining these issues, lists some pressing questions concerning children's ability to evaluate risks in their environments, summarizes relevant research, and describes the kinds of studies and policy considerations that are needed to create appropriate out-of-school environments forchildren.