Daycare center uses Web cams to allow parents to keep an eye on their chidren

By: Laura Pieper
08/04/2007

What parent wouldn't want to be able to watch their children whenever they wanted, even if they were at work?

A new daycare in Ames is offering Web cam technology that enables parents to check in on their children any time during the day.

The Play Den, which opened in early June, uses the WatchMeGrow streaming video system. Parents can log onto the daycare's Web site to view their children in action, from crafts to nap time.

"The parents just love it," said Play Den owner Kate Kelley. "Not only does it give them a sense of safety, but it also gives them a window into their children's lives."

Nevada parent Laura Cole decided to send her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Melanie, to Play Den soon after it opened.

"We toured a lot of daycares before we picked them," Cole said. "It's hard to find good daycares. They're either packed full or it's a mess."

She said Play Den is new and clean, the children eat healthy meals and the staff is comfortable enough with their experience to use the Web cams.

"That's huge for us to have that security," she said. "Some places don't even let parents stop by during the day."

Kelley, an Iowa State University English professor with a 2 1/2-year-old son, came up with the idea for a new daycare in Ames while brainstorming with an ISU colleague.

"It kind of morphed from a place where people can take their kids and stay and play with them, to a different kind of daycare in Ames," Kelley said.

Different in that her goal is to create a community where children and parents feel they belong, while maintaining the atmosphere of a home daycare operation.

Play Den follows the Montessori example of keeping children of all ages together so they can learn from one another. Older children can help guide the younger ones, while the toddlers "are seeing examples of kids who are further along in development," Kelley said.

Cole's daughter is thriving in this atmosphere, she said. Melanie was very shy and scared of new people, but now she has bonded with her daycare providers and made friends.

"Obviously she's having fun and she's learning," Cole said. "It was a pretty big deal to find the right place for her."

Play Den is licensed to have up to 30 children, but Kelley said she would prefer to have about 24. Currently, there are 16 children in the daycare. Kelley said she wants to keep a ratio of six children per daycare associate.

Heather Julich, director of Play Den, anticipates the daycare will be popular with parents.

"I've worked in several different childcare environments and know there's something special about this place," she said.

In addition to the Web cams, Play Den operators hope to offer date nights beginning this fall. They would accept children ages 2 to 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, giving parents time to themselves. The date nights would not be exclusive to registered Play Den students.

"I just think it would be fun for the kids," Kelley said.

Laura Pieper can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 353, or lpieper@amestrib.com.

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