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Smile! You're on GuardianCam It's mid-morning at the R-Kidz Early Childhood Education Center, and the 4- and 5-year-olds are singing about a green, speckled frog. Their parents have long since gone to work, but if Mom and Dad would like to see the sing-along, they can check in without leaving their jobs. R-Kidz, which opened in June at 410 S. Wilbur St., is the first local child care center to install cameras allowing parents to watch the classroom in streaming video over the Internet. "Parents need more time to see what their kids are doing,'' said Judi Robinson, director of R-Kidz, which offers child care, preschool and kindergarten. "Because they are so busy, they miss a lot of the milestones.'' One wide-angle camera is in each classroom. Each parent or guardian has a user name and password to log into the GuardianCam. Parents also can give permission for up to six other relatives to have access to the site. They can key up images on a secure server from anywhere in the world that has an Internet terminal. Grandparents in far-flung cities can see their grandchildren in Walla Walla every day. "Virtually everyone is excited about it,'' Robinson said. "One of our parents is going to China this month. She'll be gone for two to three weeks, but will be able to log on and see her daughter.'' Arda Blevins, who is raising her granddaughter, Courtney Blevins, 5, said that being able to watch her activities during the day on a computer screen helps her stay more attuned to the child. She does not miss as much of Courtney's day. "I can see how she interacts and when she is raising her hand and taking part,'' Blevins said. "If she is holding back, I would notice that an be able to talk to her about it.'' Blevins, who sells real estate, said she checks the GuardianCam both while at the office and at home. She also keys it up in the morning while Courtney is getting ready to leave for day care, so they can see the other kids arriving. "She gets a real big charge out of watching it,'' said Blevins, who chose the center in part because of the GuardianCam. "I just want the best for her, and I feel this is the best.'' She also considers the camera's watchful eye a safeguard. "I think if (staff) know Big Brother is watching, I think it will make it better all the way around,'' she said. The cameras record in color. Although GuardianCam can install a system with both picture and sound, sound is rarely requested, said Randy Etheridge, marketing director for the California-based company. The company's research shows that about 90 percent of parents log in while at work. Peak periods are right after the children are dropped off, around lunch, and shortly before it is time to pick up the children. Video streaming cameras are becoming more common in day cares, but the technology used here is different than the norm. R-Kidz was GuardianCam's first site to use high-speed wireless broadband technology. Walla Walla's PocketiNet provides the wireless service. ``Walla Walla was the pilot for this. We know it works now,'' Etheridge said. ``We are expecting other day cares in that area to sign up. That's what usually happens.'' ©Walla Walla Union-Bulletin 2001 |
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