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Big Mother is watching you
By Katharine Barney, Evening Standard Last updated at 11:04am on 12.04.07
Logging on: Justine Hogben checks on her child from her desk in the City and, left, a view from the webcam
Thousands of London parents are monitoring their children at nursery by webcam.
More than 100 nurseries have installed the cameras so parents can watch their offspring while they are at work.
The equipment lets parents log on to the nursery's website so they can view their son or daughter at play.
The boom comes in the wake of a report warning that nurseries and daycare groups are creating "anti-social" children. Oxford University researchers found toddlers become more disruptive the longer they attend, particularly if it is for more than 35 hours a week.
The study, funded by the Department for Education and Skills, reignited the debate over whether young children are better off being looked after at home.
The nursery webcams are largely aimed at new mothers who want to resume their career but feel anxious about leaving their child at a young age.
A typical system covering four rooms and a garden will cost around £10,000 to put in. So far they have only been installed in private nurseries.
Nurseries with the system can charge a premium of up to £25 a week, with a typical parent paying £175 for a week of full-time care for their four-year-old, compared to £150 at an ordinary establishment.
Nurserycam, which accounts for 90 per cent of the market, set up the first systems five years ago, but has seen a rise in popularity in the past two years.
Now there are 383 systems across the country, 106 of which are in London.
Melissa Kao, founder of Nurserycam, said: "By enabling parents to view live images of their child at play via the internet from wherever they are, they can see for themselves that their child is fine and the nursery is doing a fantastic job.
"The webcam helps to increase parents' understanding and awareness of their children's development.
"Simply put, it provides parents with a means to be involved in their child's daily achievements and share to some degree in their milestones."
Nursery webcams have even been a hit with famous names, with Catherine Zeta-Jones extolling their virtues.
While shooting The Legend Of Zorro in Mexico, the actress kept an eye on her children through the system.
She said: "I miss my family. Obviously, it doesn't replace the real thing, but that webcam is my saviour." But child development charity the National Day Nursery Association said it did not think the systems were a good idea. Chief executive Purnima Tanuku said: "We believe there are human rights and invasion of privacy issues, both for the children and the nursery workers. We also have concerns over the maintenance of effective security so that only parents access the webcams.
"Good childcare practice and working in partnership with parents is far preferableto this type of technology. It would be advisable for nurseries to invest in staff training and facilities for children, rather than spending on webcam technology.
"We advise parents to make sure they are fully involved in their nursery, to ensure there is a keyworker system in place and to get to know their keyworker and nursery manager so they can share concerns and get feedback on their child's development and experiences."
Reader views (11)
I love the idea!
- Kate, Ealing
It is interesting to read all comments and see that all working mums love NurseryCam. The others simply don't understand the pressure faced by everyday working mum. It is not about trust or not trust, it is about bonding with your most precious child, given the financial constraints of modern world.
- Chloe, Dulwich
What about "Big Father"? Aren't Dads allowed a look-in?
I think it's obsessive and paranoid, preparing our children for the Stasi State they will live in as adults.
- Andrew Casey, London UK
Surely one would not leave their child in someone else's care if they were not 100% confident of their wellbeing?
- Claire, London
A further example of a how we're turning into big brother state. I wouldn't be happy for people to sit and watch my child whilst they play, how can we ensure that won't happen? I don't think this is a good idea at all. If you want to spend more time with your children, don't send them to nursery so often.
- Rani, Hammersmith
These cameras will allow parents like myself who have to work the chance to see the little things their children do that they would otherwise miss out on. Having had to send my child to nursery since they were a baby I would of loved the opportunity to spend five minutes a day to see what they were doing.
- Alexia, Barking
What is really sad about this is how we don't live in a society where we can trust anyone. We feel the need to the spy on our children to ensure they are cared for properly. We really should be ashamed that this is being implemented rather than glad.
- Moira, Slough
This is a great idea. Our lives get ever busier as technology simplifies and increases our ability to work but at the same time it enables us to keep in contact with loved ones wherever they may be. Sure this is nothing like the quality time we used to get but it's better than nothing and can only improve as time goes on.
- Hamish, London
If this can give some mothers piece of mind then its a great idea. As long as its monitored correctly and can't be viewed by just anyone as that could pose a security threat to the child. Also what will employers think when all their employees are logging onto these websites during works hours?
- Lou, Walthamstow
This will just mean parents will wrap their children up in cotton wool even more. If you can't leave your children at nursery on their own without feeling the need to check on them, will you want to do the same when their at school? Or what about when they've grown up and got a job?
- Steve, Peckham
I would welcome this in all nurseries. I know I found it difficult returning to work and leaving me son at nursery so having the ability to check to see how he is during the day would of been a god send for me.
- Hannah, North London
