I'm having problems with my son and I need to be able to see what he's doing in his room occasionally. Unfortunately hi-tech gadgets are out of the price range. Any suggestions?
2006-11-10 11:08:06 · 16 answers · asked by Mr. Awesome! 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
You did not mention the age of your son. If he is not a teenager, keeping tabs on him should not be an issue. However when he is a teen, he needs some level of privacy. But all is not lost!
Does he have a computer of his own and online? You worried about his online activities? There is free software (freeware) you can download to a diskette or burn to a DVD and install on his computer. This software will keep track of where he goes on the internet, and record every single keystroke without his knowledge. He wont even know its installed.
Its best right now to tell your son (if you really feel he is abusing your trust) to talk with him like I did with my daughter when she was a teen. "I will respect your privacy AS LONG AS, you do not give me any reason to suspect you're up to something. The moment you give me reason to be suspicious - I am going to invade your privacy.
If he starts in on how unfair this is - don't let him control the conversation and steer it to guilt tripping you. Remind him that until he is 18 and living on his own, you are responsible for his safety and welfare and as long as that is the law - you will use whatever means at your disposal to make sure he stays out of trouble.
If he wants privacy - like respect - he has to earn it.
This open policy of invading his privacy if he gives you reason to, is not unfair, but practical.
For the record it is not a good idea to use any and every excuse to invade a teen's privacy. Staying out late, is. Not being where he is supposed to be on sleepovers or going to the movies is. Acting guilty about something or acting like he's hiding something is.
Do not raid his room anytime you feel like it because then, thats just looking for conflict and will ruin any relationship you might have or will ever have with your son. THINK before you act.
2006-11-10 11:31:49 · answer #1 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You're posting a question on Yahoo Answers, so one high-tech gadget you own is a computer. The only other high-tech gadget you need is a small black&white video surveillance camera, which can be bought for less than $50, including software and cables. After you obtain that, wait for an opportunity when your son is away for several hours, and install the camera in a concealed place in his room. You have to run a cable to your computer, or you can buy a wireless video camera.
2006-11-10 19:19:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a child our bedrooms where down a hallway to your left,now at one end of the hallways was bedrooms and on the other end there was the livingroom and kichen.Well my mom had the couch right against one wall and the entertainmaent center on the other side.On the entertainment center there was glass down one side and across sat my mom.Now for years my brother and I couldn't understand how my mom could see us sneaking around,well she could see us from the reflection on the glass.She was able to see us all the way to the end of the hall.One day when I finally sat where she did is the day I realized she could see us,LOL
2006-11-10 19:34:44 · answer #3 · answered by too4barbie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TIM DO NOT BE A COWARD. If you do not trust your son than remove the door from the hinges. Trying to spy on him when he has a reasonable expectation of privacy is deceitful. Maybe you are not to be trusted. If you take the door off than he has no expectations. Bottom line...discuss your concerns with him, start a dialog.
2006-11-10 19:29:13 · answer #4 · answered by steve b 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spying on your son can only make a bad situation worse. How old is he? What are you hoping to find out? What will you do to him when you've sneaked around enough to find out his secrets? You are headed to a very bad place where nothing good can happen. Think about it. If you really quit trying to control him, there's just a chance you and he might be able to communicate.
2006-11-10 19:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by beast 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just go low-tech. Drill a hole in the wall of the adjacent room and look through it. If you really want to be sneaky disguise the hole by placing in through a strategic part of one of his posters or pictures that are hanging on the wall as to disguise it. The fact that you think it nessesary to spy on your kids however, is kinda disheartening. I would say that from experience being sneaky and trying to "bust" your kids will just piss them off and make them want to rebel more. I would say to set guidelines for them and stick to your guns. Also take an active role in their life and try to find out who they are hanging out more than anything, and what kinda of people they are. If you are worried about you kid doing drugs or having sex, just become familiar with the signs of both if you don't know already and track your kids.
2006-11-10 19:25:02 · answer #6 · answered by james_spader_jr 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Have you tried talking to him or getting psychiatric help for him?. I don't know what the problem is, so it is hard to give appropriate advice. Although I realize and understand that you are concerned, spying on him is a major invasion of privacy, if he finds out it could make things alot worse! Seek professional advice!
2006-11-10 19:21:53 · answer #7 · answered by alessa_sunderland 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
make your own special 'secret' hole (lol).
On a more serious note..........you could try setting up your own camcorder if you have one (hidden of course). If he has a computer in his room, I would remove it to a place like the kitchen where you can moniter what he's doing. If you suspect drugs, you can always check his room when he's not there
2006-11-10 23:39:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It isn't hi-tech but works well....lil camera I bought mine on ebay.Purchased for just over $30. Is very easy to set up also...Good Luck!
2006-11-10 19:55:05 · answer #9 · answered by justmedrt 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Be on the inside of the room? LOL
Seriously it depends on the door. If it's glass well, then you can see in right, if it's wood you could put in a "peep" hole.
2006-11-10 19:12:07 · answer #10 · answered by phoenix 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋