Historical March 1984 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Thirty YMCA co-ed day care centers (Latchkey Centers) provide before-school and after-school care for school-aged children whose parents are not home.
The thirty Centers operate out of the local school or Y facility and run Monday through Friday, 7 to 8:30 a.m. in the morning and 3:15 to 6 p.m. in the afternoons.
The costs vary but are less than $20 per week.
The Y’s new Latchkey Centers are staffed by qualified caring Y instructors.
The programs offer indoor/outdoor, individual and group activities: games. stories, arts and crafts, sports, quiet time, study time and more. Latchkey children are school-aged children who must let themselves into an empty house after school usually because their parents work.
The term “latchkey” comes from the practice of young children wearing their housekeys on a ribbon around their necks.
The thirty YMCA Latchkey Program Centers are coordinated by eleven YMCA’s. Call Your local Y for information on Latchkey Centers in your area. Latchkey Centers are supported by the YMCA and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Originally published in The Paper, March 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Headline says YWCA, while the entire article describes YMCA centers. Source discrepancy retained.
Original source: SD_Times1984_03.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
