It’s probably a safe bet that most homeowners who invest in home security cameras do so to make their homes safer. Cameras allow them to watch for intruders whether they are home or not. But sometimes, catching an intruder is not the issue. Sometimes, security cameras also help parents keep an eye on their kids.
An Early Morning Surprise
One mom in North Dakota recently gained some first-hand experience in the value of home security cameras for watching the kids. She got up at 4:30 in the morning to use the bathroom when she heard a noise from downstairs. Upon investigating, she found her 5-year-old son sitting on the couch and playing with his iPad. Security camera footage revealed he had been in the living room for more than three hours.
The boy apparently couldn’t sleep and was confused as to what time it was. So he slipped out of his bedroom, went downstairs, and curled up on the couch with the tablet. No harm done. Yet the incident is a clear demonstration of how video cameras can be utilized to manage a household with kids.
An Alarm to Wake Up Mom and Dad
I have no way of knowing whether this North Dakota family had their security system set up to send alarms when cameras pick up motion in the house. I do know that setting such an alarm is possible. Mom and dad could have been notified via their cell phones when their son originally went downstairs at about 1:30.
One of them could have gone down, spoken to the child, and helped him get back into bed. It is these types of things that make interior video cameras so helpful for managing a household. Kids, and even adults too, do not always make the best choices. Video cameras can help us correct some of those choices early on.
Watching the Kids After School
The North Dakota incident aside, think of the other possibilities. One thing that immediately comes to mind is keeping an eye on the kids after school. Video cameras are great for that task when both parents work and neither one gets home until early evening.
Here is a typical setup that could work nicely:
- Front Door – An interior video camera with a view of the front door lets mom and dad know that the kids have arrived home safely. They also know exactly when the kids got home.
- Dining Room – Another camera providing a view of the dining room gives parents the opportunity to ensure kids are doing their homework before they do anything else. The kids have to sit at the table and do their work until it’s done.
- Family Room – After the homework is done, a camera in the family room allows mom and dad to keep an eye on the kids while they play video games, watch videos, etc.
Parents cannot always be home when their kids get out of school. It is the reality of modern life. But if the kids are old enough to be home alone, a few strategically placed video cameras provide an extra level of security because mom and dad can check in on them periodically.
Avoid Cameras in Certain Places
It should be obvious that there are some places inside the home that do not make appropriate locations for video cameras. As a parent, I would never place a video camera directly inside a child’s bedroom. Doing so is just asking for trouble.
Bathrooms are also off limits. Every family member deserves privacy in the bathroom space. And when there are guests in the home, the law recognizes a reasonable expectation of privacy in the bathroom.
Cameras in the same hallway as bedrooms and bathrooms or okay. From a security standpoint, placing a camera in the hall just outside the master bedroom is a good idea. Why? Because the master bedroom is one of the first places a burglar will look for valuables.
Keeping an Eye on Family Pets
Whether or not a homeowner has kids, yet another reason for installing interior cameras is to keep an eye on pets. Maybe you have a dog you suspect is getting into the garbage. A video camera will give you the scoop easily enough. And if your dog is scavenging in the trash can, a camera equipped with onboard video can help you teach him to stay away.
Imagine getting an alert on your phone, an alert indicating that Rover is approaching the kitchen garbage can. You immediately talk to him through the camera’s onboard audio. By teaching him certain commands, you can instruct him to stay away from the garbage can and that will be that.
Interior cameras can help you keep track of your dogs and cats throughout the day. They can reveal whether your cat is roaming around the house at night in search of mice. Video footage can reveal if your dog is scratching the door. The possibilities are endless.
Sensitivity Is the Biggest Challenge
Despite all the benefits of installing internal security cameras, there are downsides. The experts at Vivint say that one of the biggest challenges is camera sensitivity. Some cameras might not be sensitive enough to be worthwhile. Others may be too sensitive to the point of sending you constant false alarms.
Ideally, a good camera offers multiple sensitivity levels. Some of the best are also capable of distinguishing between people, pets, and inanimate objects. They are probably the best option for interior surveillance.
Video footage revealed to a North Dakota mother that her son had gotten out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and gone downstairs. Her experience demonstrates just one way that interior security cameras can help parents manage their households.
Do you have cameras inside your home? If so, do you use them to keep an eye on your kids or pets? Doing so isn’t a bad idea. Anything that helps parents do a better job is worth considering.
