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Let's keep Big Brother out of the nursery

Recently we received a letter advertising a 'daycare nursery web camera system'. Nurseries can have cameras installed in their rooms which film the activity in the room during working hours. The children's parents can subscribe by paying a monthly fee to have passworded access to the pictures via the internet. We are very concerned about this development. The literature with it states that the system will provide parents with peace of mind while they are at work. But will it? Are parents always going to tune in at times when their children are playing, eating or sleeping happily? Imagine the curious or even anxious parent who tunes in just when their child is upset, for whatever reason. The phone calls to the nursery to check on children will actually increase as parents seek explanations of what they have just seen (without knowing what exactly is happening over a longer period of time).

We are very concerned about this development. The literature with it states that the system will provide parents with peace of mind while they are at work. But will it? Are parents always going to tune in at times when their children are playing, eating or sleeping happily? Imagine the curious or even anxious parent who tunes in just when their child is upset, for whatever reason. The phone calls to the nursery to check on children will actually increase as parents seek explanations of what they have just seen (without knowing what exactly is happening over a longer period of time).

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