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.
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.
Parent camera consent form template
[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.
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.
Download the editable templates
Download the editable templates
Both templates in one editable Word file, with the [bracketed] blanks ready for your center's details. Pick your state and the audio-consent rule is already written in. Free, and no email required.
Choose your state (recommended)
Each file carries that state's audio-consent rule, licensing agency, and statute citation. General information, not legal advice.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Don't see your state, or not sure? Download the general version.
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.
Daycare camera policy: FAQ
Do I need a camera policy for my daycare?
Do I need parent consent for daycare cameras?
Do I need staff consent for daycare cameras?
Does my daycare camera policy need to address audio?
Related: daycare camera laws by state · daycare camera privacy laws.