[ghshephard]

In the United States (and Canada), these types of kids were referred to as, "Latchkey Kids" - which I always thought had a positive spin, but apparently some considered it more typical of the lower socio-economic class, and therefore negative.

To answer your question, Daycare or After School activities are two of the mechanisms used to keep children safe when their parents are working - which can be a real problem if the Daycare costs more than the salary being made by the employee - this is a real problem in the United States, and results in situations in which the parents would end up losing money by working.

Usually what happens is the parent finds another stay-at-home parent, or unemployed parent, to take care of their children for a smaller amount of $$$. Ask yourself what you did with your eight year old before he was eight years old. Now extend that out another couple years.