A ehlicopter parent's dream!  Will they tehn insist they be installed in schools in a few years?

I think they are a natural outgrowth of parental concerns over news reports of the (relatively few) care centres that don't make the grade.  I also think they are a less than helpful reaction.

in some countries i can imagine those could cause potential child pornography charges...

HI....not to derail the thread, but I was looking after my dad for many years in his home - I put a web cam in the living room - as he was almost 90 at the time, he spent most of his time in the living room...thus that's where I put the camera.  I amed it so I could see the kitchen, dinning room and living room.  It was a great comfort for me just to be able to take a quick look to make sure he was ok. 

No worries Jobam - assuming your dad knew the camera was there!

Re the daycare cams - it seems one of the challenges for parents who go back to work is learning to trust others with care of their kids, and being able to separate themselves.  Seems like with the cameras, there may be more checking, less trust, less ability to separate ... quite possibly more anxiety.  What if they look in during the 5 minutes of the day that kid is really unhappy & wailing - whereas the rest of the time, the child has been content and doing just fine - possibly a skewed perspective would then develop ...

I agree Gord with your assessment of it's evolution.

Yikes Ianna - hope not!

I think it's sad that this should be needed at all. That a parent should have to go back to work. If she so wants to be there looking after her baby or toddler, then that's where she should be.

On the upside, if the daycare knows mom and dad could be watching, they'll likely try harder not to do anything they wouldn't want parents to see, thus making daycare safer, whether you're looking in or not.

I would have found that a comfort when I used daycare. I probly would have peeked in a few times at first, then not bothered once I was familiar with what was going on there and felt comfortable. It's really hard to leave your child there at first, breaking the child's trust, and not being able to know what goes on while you're away.

Though once we were both adjusted, it was sometimes a relief to drop the little tyke off and not have to worry about him til 5: or whenever it was. Other places I never stopped worrying. But I always felt guilty, though it did help come first day of preschool. He was prepared to be left there, while other kids had never been apart from their parents.

I always felt lesser having to use a daycare, like it was for poor families who coudn't afford to live off one income. That's probly not the case, but that's how it felt. I felt my son deserved more.

I don't like the idea of surveilence.  To me it seems to fly in the face of trust.  It seem to me that if I didn't trust the people I choose to leave my young children with, I would be looking for alternatives. 

I don't think it makes the children safer - unless wrapping them in bubblewrap might also make them safer.  Rather I think it might stiffle spontaneity and creativity and letting the worker use their best judgment in situations.   I'd rather risk the occasional fall than have the caregivers stop the kids from running and climbing in the playground (I'm presuming the daycare has an outside area and if they use cams these would be installed there as well), and I'd rather have the caregiver use their judgment when two kids get in a squabble over a toy and sometimes let them work it out themselves, with a bit of shouting and pulling, than constantly hovering over them.   

Also,  unless I worked nearby and had the option of leaving work and going to the daycare, I don't see how it would help me much if I saw my kid crying.   I would hope that I knew my kid's personality well enough to know if she was fearful or unhappy about the daycare, or if she had unexplained bruises and marks on her.

I think it depends on how the parents view it.  If it's for surveillance, then I think that would be negative.  If it's just a chance to peak in on the kids, I think it could be beneficial.  I know a mom who went back to work and everyday her husband would post at least 1 pic of the kids during his paternity leave for her.  She trusted him, but it brightened her day a bit to see the kids having fun.  There are also the kids who cry when their parents leave, but after a few minutes they are off and having fun, that could also be a relief to parents.  Also, for any moms who are pumping for the really little ones they might have an easier time if they are able to see their child on their break.

Maybe having the kids recorded for a few minutes at a time a few times throughout the day that could be watched anytime during or after would be more beneficial than having a camera on the kids at all times.

It might be worth noting that parents don't always have much choice in leaving their kids at daycares, especially poor parents. I had to quit my job and throw our income into doubt when I was uncomfortable with the daycare I was using that time. And certain abuses can go unnoticed, because of children's not always knowing what's right and wrong.

I turned up unexpectedly early once to pick up my son and the workers were slagging off certain parents infront of the kids, speaking harshly and negatively, and the children all had their heads down uncomfortably and silently at their craft table. That was when I quit my job. After that we had to move as we couldn't then afford the rent. Not exactly the brightest of times. We haven't rented since, and never will again.

How sad to have to pump at work. Glad I never had to do that.

I used liscenced daycare centres 2 3 different times.

The first time it was located at my place of work. It was brandnew and provided awful care. I remeber popping in at lunch and saying to a staff member "Does that child have a bottle in there? as the young toddler was banging on the fridge and crying. Turns out he did and with the prompt it was taken out for him! I could go on-but we pulled our 2 and used unliscenced but better care.

My eldest used a daycare 3 days a week for 9 months when he was up to age 2. He cried everytime I dropped him off but by the time I walked arounf the hallway-past the courtyard windows he was happy

My youngest did a liscend dayhome  but 1 day a week-when he was 4 in a daycare- for more structure. He loved both.

So yes I would have appreciated a webcam at all three.. Just fun to see them playing.

I was priveleged to never work full time until youngest was in school so it was a blend of home with me and childcare.

My friend's daughter was in  daycare but she took her out.  Apparently the lady hit her on the head and Mom says that Daughter has no reason to lie to her about it.  Now the police want to question daughter etc. She is 3 1/2.  This high strung hard to manage little girl may have caused the lady to lose her cool and if that is the case, shut her down and blow a 25 year -old successful daycare. I am not saying the daycare worker was in the right to hit her, if that is exactly what happened.  However, this little girl can try the best of them. There is nothing 'wrong' with her, she is  healthy and bright. Just....you know.

Without a camera they will never know the real story. 

What a timely thread.