40,000 Kindergarteners Home Alone Afterschool

According to mother's advocacy group, MomsRising, more than 40,000 kindergarteners are left home alone afterschool because of inadequate and unavailable childcare options when class lets out. I heard that figure the first time I watched the documentary based on their book, The Motherhood Manifesto, and I was stunned, sad and upset. Forty thousand young children, ranging in age from 4.5 years to 6-years-old, home alone for several hours after school.

Here's a funky twist. We know though there's not enough publicly-funded childcare to get these kids in supervised settings. But the White House is proposing to cut federal afterschool funds by $300 million while creating a federal afterschool program that is voucher-based. The result, says MomsRising, is the closing of even more afterschool programs.

What I love about MomsRising is that they make it really easy for you to share your voice on issues that matter to moms. If you want to let it be known that you believe this proposed afterschool funds cut is insane, then email Congress through MomsRising.

And while you're at it, drop a comment to let us know what aftershool care is like in your area, and how you handle it.