Before- and after-school care arrangements for third- and fifth-grade students were investigated, with specific attention given to the extent of self-care arrangements, satisfaction levels of parents and children using self-care, and variables contributing to satisfaction. The sample included 675 students attending Newington Elementary School in Summerville, South Carolina, during the 198l-1982 school year. An initial questionnaire, delivered by the children to their parents or guardians, solicited information regarding marital and employment status and, if applicable, care arrangements provided for children during parental absence. Parents who had children in self-care responded to questions regarding the structure of these arrangements and their satisfaction with this type of care. Ten third-grade and 10 fifth-grade students in self-care were interviewed regarding the following aspects of the time they spent alone: activities, rules and regulations, contact with parents, emergency instructions, and satisfaction with their care arrangements. Five independent variables (amount of time spent weekly in self-care, sex of child, grade level, presence of sibling, and voluntary or involuntary use of self-care) were selected for multiple regression analysis in an attempt to explain the variance in the dependent variable of parental satisfaction. Results are discussed. (RH)