Book excerpt: After-school programs are becoming an important developmental support for low and moderate-income children. This book describes the historical development, current status, and critical issues facing these programs. Divided into historical eras for easy reference, the text examines: - The evolution of after-school programs and their role in the lives of children, providing a framework for reflecting on broader, contemporary issues such as the effects of poverty on children in the United States.- The rationales for and objectives of these programs and how both were shaped by prevailing societal ideas about children.- Patterns of sponsorship and staffing, describing daily routines and exploring the nature of children's experiences in different kinds of programs.- The relationship between after-school programs and schools, analyzing how these programs have responded to the dilemma of balancing children's needs for guidance and supervision with their equally important need for spontaneity and self-expression.- Current directions and expectations for the future of after-school programs.