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Post by lankelly on May 16, 2015 17:05:21 GMT
We have been talking for some time about using a covert camera inside the house. This is really to record footage of the interactions between siblings so they can be assessed in their home environment. I have found some in pc world for around £70. They have facility to record and store or transfer images to pc. I was wondering if anyone had experience of using one, and what advantage or drawback there maybe.
I know it sounds desperately sad but we're not convinced about the control issues playing out and can't trust the children to be safe alone without more information. Thanks all.
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Post by daffin on May 16, 2015 18:15:20 GMT
It is very sad but I've been thinking of something similar - so that we can film Monkey Boy, to show to a therapist.
I have no experience or advice, but I'll follow the thread with interest.
I think of you often and the tough time you are having. I hope that something makes it easier soon.
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Post by monkey on May 16, 2015 19:37:51 GMT
Yes, we have one in LO's bedroom.
Recording triggers on movement. We are using it to gather evidence of her sleeping pattern(or not!) for when we meet with the psychiatrist re consideration of meds.
You can't see a lot of detail on the footage but we're hoping it will provide some "evidence".
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Post by monkey on May 16, 2015 19:39:42 GMT
Just to add; we've told LO what it is and it's installed on the ceiling. She hasn't managed to sabotage it yet!
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Post by lankelly on May 16, 2015 22:48:56 GMT
That's interesting I hadn't thought about recording sleep. Tweedledee has major problems I tried to write them over a period of seven days and it was so hard when so tired. What kind of camera is it Monkey? and was it supplied or your own?
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Post by monkey on May 17, 2015 19:55:10 GMT
Hi Lankelly, it's our own camera. It's a Tenvis IP with night vision. Cost about £30.
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Post by corkwing on May 18, 2015 6:55:31 GMT
Hi, Lankelly -
I'd be careful about sharing the videos with anyone unless you really trust them to be on your side. There was a recent thread on the Adoption UK boards where someone had done similar and the therapist, or whoever it was, interpreted everything that the parents were rubbish. I think it was that the parents were trying to be calm and collected - which is what we're often advised to do - and the therapist read it that they were flat and emotionless.
I'm sure that other people in the past have had similar experiences.
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Post by lankelly on May 18, 2015 11:11:15 GMT
Yes I'd thought of that after last week's therapy when the psychologIst wondered if Moptop would've calmed quicker I'd restrained him! This is in session. I would never have thought to do this in therapy unless she was getting hurt too. My unspoken question was why didn't you? I was getting quite hurt but have not been 'trained' in safe restraint. Can only imagine what damage film footage could do if it had me on it. I had thought only to record the children not parents...
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 11:26:11 GMT
I'm with Corkwing on this one, I would tread cautiously with cameras and recording as SS could use it against you, the parents.
Also if SS see that you feel you need to record the children in order to keep them safe they will be concerned and might decide that you and DH can't cope. It could become a child protection issue if they feel the younger two are at risk from Moptop and they could decide to step in and remove Moptop.
I am only telling you this from my experience with SS. Although you try and work with them and are 100% honest with them with the best of intentions to get help for all 3 of your children, they can, and do, step in sometimes and over rule the parents if they feel you are not reasonably able to cope. "ar*e covering" is the technical term in case of accusations against SS for not stepping in sooner.
I'm not saying don't do it, it's something you might want to discuss with SS first and see what their feelings are on it. Otherwise you risk them deciding you aren't able to keep younger two safe and they may step in.
Tricky one.
Also SS are very hot on childrens human rights and tbey may have to check it out as to whether you are infringing your childrens rights to privacy.
I kid you not, it is a strange unfair world we live in and once SS are in your life you will feel the world has gone mad.
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Post by flossie on May 18, 2015 12:12:44 GMT
I've recorded dd before when she's been in full flow....
Because I did it with my mobile it comes across as a distressed child who's parent is ignoring them, just doesn't tell the whole story. I suppose that's where a surveillance type camera would be more useful.
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Post by lankelly on May 18, 2015 17:03:21 GMT
Fair point that Flossie thanks.
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Post by monkey on May 21, 2015 20:20:30 GMT
DH and I have just reviewed the footage from the night vision camera we installed in LO's bedroom a week ago. It has a motion sensor and starts recording when it senses movement.
Oh my....
LO is still up and busy 3-4 hours after going to bed. Lining up teddies or books, building towers, playing hide & seek under her duvet etc, etc.
We check on her when we go to bed by which time she's usually tidied up and there's not a lot to see. But she's never "asleep" when we go in to her. She is up and out of bed ready to use the toilet and is fully conversant - not at all like she's been in a deep sleep. This is what made us think!
In the morning she's up and about way before we surface and we're early risers!
All this is in absolute silence - we've never heard her when we go up with BD at bedtime.
We had suspicions that her hypervigilance continued when she went to bed but not to this extent.
She has a blackout blind and blackout curtains and the most minimalist bedroom you'd imagine for a 7 year old.
Maybe she doesn't need much sleep or perhaps sleep depravation is contributing to her daytime behaviour.......
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Post by mrbop on May 22, 2015 6:45:55 GMT
Is she scared of sleep or the night? Our little ones were (and to an extent still are) scared by bedtimes because so much bad stuff used to happen for them in evenings and at night plus a total lack of boundaries and fixed bed times from the BF. I don't know your routine but we do quiet time and settling routine before bed then card or board games or reading time. At LOs age we used to sit quietly for a while outside their rooms (caught up on a lot of reading) to reassure about safety (as well as ensuring no wandering around or stirring each other up) and providing calm until they had settled enough or were asleep. We also discovered playing calming classical music whilst we sat outside their rooms helped reinforce that atmosphere and we left it running. It is still sometimes a difficult period as all the busyness of the day goes away and there is nothing to distract them from what is going on inside their heads. It tends to be when a lot of difficult questions and concerns come out.
It is incredibly wearing but if they start getting enough sleep you get different children (not perfect mind you!).
Hope you find an answer that works for LO.
Good luck
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