How to keep track of little ones on the loose

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It’s hard not to worry when you don’t know where your child is. We explain how to pinpoint their location and save your nerves.

With some kids, it takes just a few seconds of distraction while the whole family is at the mall. If your child pops out of view, they’ll usually be right back in just as few blinks of the eye. You can’t help but worry, though.

Then, when they’re mature enough to come home alone from school but not really mindful of the time, you still probably have no need for panic if they’re 15 minutes late. Friends can be distracting, after all. So can strangers, though.

It’s hard not to worry when you don’t know where your child is. These days, however, there is a solution (or several) to this age-old problem: location-tracking devices for kids. Here, we take a closer look at some tracking solutions to help you pick one that suits you.

What kid trackers are available

Trackers come in lots of flavors, and it’s impossible to say one type is better than another. The choice depends on several factors, including your child’s age, how independent they are, whether they have a smartphone, and more. After all, it’s one thing to ensure that your toddler doesn’t scoot off in the park, another entirely to keep close tabs on a freedom-loving teenager.

Locator beacons

If your child is not yet allowed out alone, or may venture out only very close to the house, a locator beacon with a range of several hundred feet may suffice. That way, when your toddler leaves your sight, you can just press the button on the remote control and the beacon will emit a sound. Some models let you set an alarm to sound if your child moves more than a predetermined distance from the remote control.

Unlike GPS trackers, which determine location to within several feet, beacons can help you find your child quickly in a small, even crowded (though not too noisy), area. On the flip side, if your child wanders too far from the remote control, the link will be lost.

Locator beacon pros:

• Easy to use;
  
• Compact;
  
• Works well in a small area;
  
• The least expensive option.
  

Locator beacon cons:

• Short range;
  
• No SOS button;
  
• Ineffective in noisy environments.
  

GPS trackers: Key rings, pendants, clip-ons

If your child already goes out without you, then you’re looking for a GPS tracker. The lightest and most compact options are key rings, pendants, and clip-on trackers. They can be worn as jewelry or attached to the child’s backpack or clothing. Such devices can be hidden from view easily, and some models can be fixed in place to make removing them difficult.

The functionality of miniature trackers varies from device to device. The simplest allow you to track your child’s location and set safe zones (such as school or home) that they are not allowed to leave at certain times. If they do, you’ll be notified immediately.

Many trackers have a large and obvious SOS button (often the only button on the device). Even a toddler can press it if in danger, and you’ll immediately receive a notification with location details. Some models with a built-in microphone also send a sound recording from the device so that you can evaluate the situation.

You can also use the parent app to request audio from the microphone.

Other devices offer unique features. For example, in addition to location, one tracker is able to determine which relative the child is with at that particular moment. Another device’s app provides, in addition to the usual map, an augmented-reality view when you hold up the phone, showing which direction you need to go to find your son or daughter.

The main disadvantage of key rings and clip-ons is that they are attached to a backpack or jacket, so if your child takes it off to go and play, you will only see the location of the tracker. Older children might intentionally try to remove the tracker to avoid being monitored, and you may have a hard time convincing them that it’s for their own safety.

What’s more, GPS trackers are relatively expensive devices, and they require mobile Internet, so there’s also a monthly subscription fee to pay.

GPS tracker pros:

• Easy to use;
  
• Compact;
  
• SOS button;
  
• Securely attached.
  

GPS tracker cons:

• Can be removed together with clothing or backpack.
  

Smartwatches

Unlike key-ring trackers, smartwatches are worn on a child’s wrist, and therefore they’re unlikely to get taken off as readily as a backpack or jacket. And they generally have more features, including calls (with or without video), texting, step-counting, educational games, and the like. That makes the gadget more interesting for children, which is a huge advantage.

Smartwatch trackers also have an SOS button as described above, and some models have a built-in sensor to detect if the child (or someone else) attempts to remove the smartwatch. Another significant advantage of a watch (compared with phones) is that your child will not miss your call even in noisy environments.
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