Free templates

Daycare camera policy & parent consent form

If your center uses cameras, you need two things in writing: a camera / video-surveillance policy for your handbook, and a parent consent form before families get live viewing access. Below are adaptable templates you can copy — plus how to keep the whole thing simple and low-risk.

Not legal advice. These are general, adaptable templates — not legal advice and not a substitute for your state's requirements. Review and adapt them for your center, and confirm with your state licensing agency or an attorney before you rely on them.

What a daycare camera policy should cover

✓Where cameras are (and are never) placed — no bathrooms or diapering areas.
✓Whether audio is recorded — the sensitive part; video-only avoids audio-consent law.
✓Who can view live — per-child, per-classroom, during set hours only.
✓Recording and retention — whether any footage is kept, for how long, and who can access it.
✓Disclosure and consent — how families and staff are notified and agree.
✓Data security — no public links; access limited to approved accounts.

Camera / video-surveillance policy template

Copy and adapt. Replace the [bracketed] items for your center.

[Center Name] — Video Camera & Parent Viewing Policy

Purpose. [Center Name] uses video cameras in classrooms and common areas to support child safety, staff accountability, and parent transparency.

Camera placement. Cameras are placed only in classrooms and common areas. Cameras are never placed in bathrooms, diapering areas, or other private spaces.

Audio. Cameras are video-only and do not record audio for parent viewing. [If your center records audio for internal use, describe consent here per your state's law.]

Parent live viewing. Enrolled parents/guardians may be granted secure, individual login access to view only their own child's classroom, live, during center-approved hours ([e.g., 4:00–6:00 PM]). Access is not a public link, is limited to approved accounts, and the center may modify or revoke access at any time.

No recording or sharing by parents. Live viewing is not recording. Parents may not record, screenshot, or share the stream. Access is for the enrolled family only.

Recording & retention. [If footage is recorded on the center's system, state where it is stored, how long it is kept ([e.g., 30 days]), and who may access it. If footage is not kept, state that viewing is live-only.]

Disclosure. This policy is provided to all enrolled families and staff. Cameras are disclosed at enrollment.

Security. Camera access requires authenticated accounts. The center does not publish public camera links.

Adopted [date]. Contact [Director Name] with questions.

[Center Name] — Parent Camera Viewing Consent

I, [Parent/Guardian Name], parent/guardian of [Child Name], have read [Center Name]'s Video Camera & Parent Viewing Policy and I:

• Acknowledge that classrooms are monitored by video-only cameras (no audio for parent viewing).
• Understand that any live viewing access I am given shows only my own child's classroom, during center-approved hours, and can be changed or revoked at any time.
• Agree not to record, screenshot, or share the video, and that access is for my family only.
• Consent to my child's presence on the center's cameras as described in the policy.

Parent/Guardian signature: ______________________ Date: __________

Staff note: recording staff can raise labor and wiretap questions, and many states require notifying everyone present. Video-only (no audio) avoids the audio all-party-consent problem — it's still best practice to notify staff and include a camera acknowledgment in your employment/policy agreement. More on staff consent for daycare cameras.

Get the editable Word + PDF versions

We'll email you fillable Word and PDF versions of both templates — tell us your state and we'll flag the audio-consent rule that applies.

How CareCam keeps the policy simple

CareCam is built around exactly what a clean policy calls for: video-only (no audio, so no audio-consent problem), per-parent access to only their own child's classroom, center-set viewing hours, no public links, and no recording for parents — on the cameras you already have.

See how it works for your center Daycare camera laws by state

Daycare camera policy — FAQ

Do I need a camera policy for my daycare?

If your center uses cameras, a written policy is best practice and is often expected in your parent handbook and licensing binder. It sets out where cameras are (never bathrooms or diapering areas), whether audio is recorded, who can view live, how long any footage is kept, and how families are notified. Confirm specific requirements with your state licensing agency.

Do I need parent consent for daycare cameras?

Most licensed centers include camera disclosure and consent in the enrollment agreement, and it's strongly recommended before giving any parent live viewing access. Our parent consent template below covers acknowledgment of live-only, video-only viewing and the no-recording/no-sharing rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Do I need staff consent for daycare cameras?

Recording staff can raise labor and wiretap questions, and many states require notifying everyone present. Video-only cameras (no audio) avoid the audio all-party-consent problem entirely. It's still best practice to notify staff and include camera acknowledgment in employment/policy agreements. Verify with an attorney for your state.

Does my daycare camera policy need to address audio?

Audio is the sensitive part. Recording audio triggers wiretap / one-party vs all-party consent laws (some states require everyone's consent). The simplest posture is video-only — which is how CareCam works, so there's no audio-consent issue for parent viewing. If you record audio for internal use, your policy must address consent for your state.