FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Rising childcare costs, household needs for double income and lack of after-school programming in some areas have created a dilemma for working parents: what to do with their children when the school day ends. In some cases a parent’s solution is to trust their children to care for themselves during the after-school hours.

"I don’t think parents want to leave their children alone," said Rebecca Newgent, University of Arkansas associate professor of counselor education. "It has become a matter of necessity. Families need a second income to make ends meet. Some parents may have the option to stay at home, but choose to work. Parents need to be self-satisfied. However, they also need to be sure not to ignore the needs of their children."

Parents may take comfort in knowing that their children are not alone. According to a United States Census Bureau statistic, an estimated 7 million children age 5 to 14 care for themselves during after-school hours. 2.4 million of these children are under 12 years old.

"A lot of parents go through a set of options before making a decision," Newgent said. "They ask, 'Is there a nearby relative? Is there an older sibling? How self-reliant is the child?’"

Newgent added that safety should be a primary concern.

"Do they know what to do in the case of an emergency or will they panic?" Newgent asked.

UA crime prevention officer Mike Pirtle agrees.

"A parent’s major concerns should be that their children know how to call for help and know when someone is lying to them," Pirtle said.

The University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) conducts several safety workshops. Among them are Discovering Safety, a program for children offered in early summer, and a child safety program which they conduct at Carlson Terrace three times each year. Pirtle said UAPD accepts requests to conduct programs in other communities.

The following are some safety tips for children from the UAPD publication "Child Safety."

• Know the phone numbers for your neighbors and your parents’ work
• In an emergency call 911. Then call your parents or a neighbor
• Keep the door locked at all times. If a stranger comes to the door don’t let them in. Never tell a stranger you are home alone. Tell them your parents can’t come to the door. If they won’t go away, call the police or a neighbor.
• Never tell a stranger on the phone you are home alone. Tell them your parents can’t come to the phone.

In addition to safety in the home, Pirtle said parents should acquaint their children with safety issues when walking to and from school.

Related tips from "Child Safety" are

• Walk with a friend if you can.
• Walk on the sidewalk or facing traffic as far from the street as possible if there is no sidewalk.
• Cross the street only at crosswalks or a road intersections if there is no crosswalk. Be sure to look both ways first and make sure traffic stops.

Pirtle added that children should stay away from bushes that line playgrounds and sidewalks. They are good hiding places for strangers.

Pirtle and Newgent agreed that parents also need to be mindful of their children’s Internet usage when they are not around because of potential safety hazards and exposure to sites that are not age appropriate.

By following safety rules and behaving responsibly, children can gain reap positive rewards through self-care. Newgent said that self-care can be beneficial to children by aiding to a child’s sense of independence and accomplishment.

"It helps them grow and mature and gives them a sense of self-worth and independence. They know that they can be trusted and that they can take care of themselves."

Newgent recommends that children complete their homework before parents return from work so that evenings may be reserved for family activities.

"As long as parents realize that it’s not the amount of time, but the quality of time spent with their children, it [time spent together] will be beneficial," Newgent said.

Self-care may work well for some families, but Newgent reminds parents that it does not have to be a permanent solution.

"It is important that a parent constantly evaluate his or her decision to make sure it’s still o.k.," Newgent said. "Keep the door open for other options if they become available."