There is an ever-increasing need for these services as families and work structures have changed:
More women are in paid work.
The number of single parent families is increasing.
Families are relocating away from traditional sources of help such as extended family, friend and neighbours.
Work place demands are often heavy.
In New Zealand it is illegal to leave children under 14 years without making ‘reasonable provision' for their care and supervision.
A child's parent, guardian or other adult responsible at the time, can be fined up to $1,000 for breaking this law. In spite of this there is strong anecdotal evidence that significant numbers of children are becoming ‘tele kids', home alone for long periods with only the telephone and television for company. Apart from the serious safety risks of such an arrangement, there are serious questions over the long-term effects of depriving children of mature adult role models and a healthy variety of activities.
Good OSCAR services provide a safe, supervised environment for school children. There are opportunities for children to develop socially, physically, emotionally, culturally and intellectually while enjoying a variety of recreational activities.
They provide peace of mind for families and there is evidence that they have a positive effect on the wider community by reducing problems such as vandalism and youth crime.
