LATCHKEY CHILD Definition & Meaning

latchkey child

noun

a child who must spend at least part of the day alone and unsupervised, as when the parents are away at work.

latchkey child

noun

a child who has to let himself or herself in at home on returning from school, as his or her parents are out at work

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of latchkey child¹

First recorded in 1940–45; so called because such a child is provided with a key for getting into the home after school

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A latchkey child from an early age, she played a lot of soccer, read a lot of books, and smoked a lot of pot.

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As a latchkey child of divorced parents growing up near Syracuse, Muir took comfort from the news “family” that appeared on his television each evening.

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As a latchkey child of divorced parents growing up near Syracuse, Muir took comfort from the news "family" that appeared on his television each evening.

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He and I are going to help Mom practice every single night, which is why I’m sitting at my desk instead of watching after-school TV, which is a birthright of every latchkey child.

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I noted an available guideline: the National SafeKids Campaign recommends that - and added that I was a latchkey child at 6 or 7, and loved it.

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