by T. K. Pippin

Created on: September 09, 2008

Security. It's a word we are all familiar with and associate with keeping tabs on each other and can give the impression of "being watched". Yet, the feeling called "security" means much more to a parent who must leave their child with someone whose character they are uncertain of. Nanny cams are a great way to make sure your child is getting proper care without neglect or abuse. It's important, however, to state to the nanny exactly how you expect your child to be taken care of and how they should be disciplined. However, it's the parent's decision as to whether or not they inform the nanny of the cam.

As a former victim of childhood sexual abuse, I can totally understand the desire for nanny cams in homes. My abusers were both babysitters that my mother hired from our church youth group of all places. The first abuser was a teenage girl whose mother was a teacher. The second, two years later, was a 14 year old boy whose father was our pastor. They weren't just people she hired from an agency or that she just met. On both occassions I felt I could not tell my parents. I was afraid, confused and felt it was my fault and the babysitters threatened to tell my parents I was misbehaving if I told.

These circumstances could be blamed on a number of things, but had my parents had the opportunity to put nanny cams in our home, the outcome would have been different. A nanny cam may not prevent your child from being abused, but it does prevent it from happening more than once and it shows your child that you are concerned for their safety and love them enough to insure it.

Nanny cams not only protect against childhood abuse and neglect but they can also prevent theft or prove who did it. Mistakingly accusing your babysitter of lifting your $300 watch, when you really just took it to the jewelers for cleaning, can lead to problems hiring a good babysitter in the future. If you have a good nanny you would want to keep her and knowing the truth about the missing object before lashing out can save you face and embarrassment and save the babysitter from wrongful accusations.

If one wishes to inform the babysitter that he/she is being recorded with a hidden camera, this could actually prevent abuse. If a nanny knows she is being watched she would most likely be much more cautious and well-behaved. This can work for your kids behavior as well, especially if you prefer to hand out the discipline yourself. It's not the nanny's business if you have a camera and he/she doesn't have the right to know. It's your house, your child, your camera. However, it would be totally out of line to put a camera in places where privacy should be given.

In conclusion, a nanny cam can save your child's life, it can solve a crime, and it can prevent false accusations. Where you put it and whether or not you tell your nanny is your decision. You are not infringing on anyone else's rights when the camera is in your own home. Nanny cams give added security and keep parents' minds at ease, enabling them to enjoy a nice evening out from the kids.

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