I do prefer IP cameras and the like for this sort of task but use what you have is always an option and webcam is very much a valid one.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ispysoftware/ is a soft sell for a paid version but the free one is still pretty good and will even do things like record when it sees movement. You may or may not have to find a dynamic DNS and they did half try, alternatively though you could always get a version of teamviewer installed on it or something (if remote control is not for you then you can always VPN in, VPN also saves having to worry about security so much and teamviewer does have a VPN option).