Latch-Key Kids
Actress Jessica Hynes, a ‘latch-key kid’, explores the effects of children taking care of themselves after school. From 2010.
Actress Jessica Hynes was a latch-key kid from the age of six.
She hears the stories of others over the generations who too had to let themselves in to an empty house after school.
How has this shaped and influenced the way she and others bring up their children?
The term "latch-key kid" came to prominence during the Second World War when children as young as five years old were being left as their Dads were away fighting and their mothers became part of the labour force.
Sandra now a grandmother in her 70's, was along with her parents 'bombed out' of their home in Sheffield. They lost everything and her mum had to go out to work; throughout her entire school life Sandra was a latch-key kid. Later on in life when she too got married and had kids she made a secret pact - she was going to be around for her kids but in doing so what were the consequences?
Decades later the term became synonymous with neglect and was dropped but the practice continues to this day.
John Amaechi defends rigorously his upbringing - having to be responsible and independent made him into who he is today - his success and they way he has raised his own family mirrors his own experience.
But 1980's child Lizzie who became a delinquent teenager says she was "at times overlooked"....brought up on Pot Noodles and stale things, she's opted for a different life for her two boys.
Whose got it right?
First broadcast on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 in May 2010.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 26 May 2010 11:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 FM
- Wed 17 Feb 2016 06:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 17 Feb 2016 13:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 17 Feb 2016 20:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 01:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 27 Nov 2019 06:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 27 Nov 2019 13:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 27 Nov 2019 20:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 28 Nov 2019 01:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 12 Dec 2024 10:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 12 Dec 2024 16:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 13 Dec 2024 00:30³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 Extra