Would You Track Your Kid With GPS?

Well, would you?

That is the question currently being posed on a variety of websites all across the internet.  One article from Wired posses the question this way:

if you had the ability to track your child’s every movement during the day, would you do so? Or is this an example of helicopter parenting taken to extremes? How about tucking a portable GPS unit in her backpack?

The truth of the matter is that parents could track their child's every movement during the day if they really wanted to.  This is a true fact that certainly isn't in question at all.  The real question is is it right for a parent to track their child?

In the question from Wired there is an implied issue with tracking your kids with GPS - it is a form of "helicopter parenting."  Helicopter parenting is a term used to describe a parent who hovers over their child, shadowing their every move.  Wikipedia defines it as:

Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they hover closely overhead, rarely out of reach, whether their children need them or not. In Scandinavia, this phenomenon is known as curling parenthood and describes parents who attempt to sweep all obstacles out of the paths of their children. It is also called "overparenting". Parents try to resolve their child's problems, and try to stop them coming to harm by keeping them out of dangerous situations.

The obvious assumption of the writer is that helicopter parenting is wrong and should be avoided.  It is generally my opinion that being the type of parent that tries to do everything for your child is not good for your kid or for you.  The child never learns to grow up and become their own person and the parent lives on the edge of a nervous breakdown 24/7.  Helicopter parenting should be avoided.

So the question is, is tracking your child with GPS an instance of helicopter parenting?

Why Tracking Your Kid With GPS Is Not Helicopter Parenting

In order for something to be helicopter parenting is must meet a certain criteria.  The first of this criteria is that the protection offered by the helicoptering parent in unnecessary.  For example, a parent chasing their kid around a soccer pitch to make sure they don't run into any holes is entirely unnecessary.  A simple walk of the pitch before the game should suffice :).  But seriously, the parenting needs to be entirely unnecessary.

The second test is that it has to be extremely invasive.  The child must have absolutely no voice and no mind of their own.  The parent is their voice and their mind, making the child an automaton that simply follows the instructions of the hovering parent.

The third test is that the hovering must make the parent feel good about themselves for being such a good parent.  If they can't brag about it to their friends then it isn't crazy enough to be considered helicopter parenting.

So, does GPS tracking your kid fit these three tests.  Well, it seems like there could be instances where a parent's choice to track their child could be helicopter parenting and other instances where it doesn't.  For example, a parent who has simply turned on the GPS tracking feature on their child's cell phone in case they loose their phone, it gets stolen, or the child is abducted certainly isn't helicopter parenting.  This type of choice does not fail either the first or second test in terms of being unnecessary or invasive.  The child's privacy is ensured while the parent also keeps their kid and their property secure.  Sure, a parent might be able to brag about this accomplishment to their friends, but it certainly isn't typical bad parenting.

So the question remains, would you track your kid with GPS?

GPS For Kids: The Options

When it comes to all the different types of device that can be used to track your kids we really come to find that there are two main types of GPS for kids, and among these two main types there are several subtypes.  When most people think about getting a GPS for their child they certainly do not think of navigation or fleet tracking, but have a specific notion in their mind.  For some, this is going to be the idea of being able to track their child in real time with a GPS tracking device.  For others, it is going to be the idea of a kid-friendly GPS device that will help their child enjoy the outdoor world and get some exercise.

Since it is difficult to tell which sense most people have when searching for the term "gps for kids" in a search engine it seems like any webpage that is worth its salt is going to offer information on both of these topics.  As such, we have divided our discussion into the following categories:

1. GPS Tracking for Kids
2. GeoCaching GPS for Kids

GPS Tracking for Kids
GPS tracking is a term that is used to describe both real time position tracking as well as data logging.  When the term is used in relation to a child GPS device it is almost always used in the real time tracking sense.  This is because the vast majority of child tracking devices are used to help ensure the safety of a child.  In the case of an emergency you need to find out where your child is right now - not after you recover the GPS tracking device.

When it comes to these real time child GPS tracking devices there are three main categories that most of the devices you will come across will fall into.  They are watches, locator devices, and cell phones.  Each of these has its own positives and negatives associated with it.  Here is a run down of each specific devices pros and cons:

1. GPS Watches for Kids -  This is a type of GPS tracking device that fits on the wrist of your child. As you might have guessed, this is, theoretically, an ideal set up for both parents and kids.  The child is less likely to loose a watch because it is attached to their wrist and this gives parents a lot of peace of mind.  It also is quickly accessible in case of an emergency since all the child has to do is touch the button on their watch and you are notified that they are in an emergency.

But GPS tracking watches for kids have rarely risen to the high standard that most people hold them to.  There is one major obstacle that manufacturers have yet to hurdle successfully - creating a small kids watch that has all the functionality parents want.  They can create a small kids watch.  They they can create a watch with all the functionality that parents want.  But they just can't seem to create the combination of the two.  This means that most kids GPS watches are going to be bulky or they are going to have less than desirable functionality.  Neither of these are a good option when your child is being taken or is in some other type of emergency.

There are some promising products on the horizon that are billed to provide important features like voice communication, one button alarm modes, and laser like GPS tracking capabilities - but these products are still under development and will not be hitting the market for months.

2.  GPS Locators For Kids -  This is a standalone GPS device that is generally very small and can fit easily inside of a child's pocket, back pack, or book bag.  Right now, if you have to get a device for your child, a child locator is probably going to make the best kid tracker for you and your family.  There are several reasons for this superiority.  The first is concealability.  Most tracking devices can be extremely small and fit in exceedingly tight spaces.  For example, the Amber Alert GPS 2G is 1.77" x 1.68" x .78"- now that is a one very compact tracking device.  It can easily fit inside your child's pocket, back pack, or shoe!  Concealabililty is important for those instances when your child falls victim to a predator out to do harm to your child.  If they can't find the GPS tracking device then they are not going to be able to remove it when they take your child.

The second area that make locators the superior form of tracker is their tracking capability.  In general, they offer superior results when compared to a tracking watch and are often on par with GPS tracking cell phones in terms of tracking capabilities.  Once a GPS signal has been found, the device will quickly process the signal information and have a location for the device in almost no time at all.  Since most modern trackers send out their position over cell phone networks, a child locator is going to be just as effective as a cell phone is in this category.

The third is ease of use.  With this type of device all you need to do it turn it on and give it to your child.  All the tracking is done automatically.  Some models and services even have automated alerts that you can set up - such as geofences or speed alerts - to notify you be text message or email when your child goes outside a specific geographic boundary (geofence) or when they travel above a certain speed.  These can be vital in alerting parents who are busy at work when something is going on with their child that is out of the ordinary.

It should be noted that GPS child locators are definitely not the perfect kid tracker.  The most common and most blaring issue with these devices is a relatively short battery life.  Tracking with GPS is a power hungry activity and small devices, like the Amber Alert GPS 2G, don't have very much room to spare for extra battery power.  As a result, the most long lasting real time tracking devices for kids are only going to last you anywhere from a few hours (when in constant tracking mode, a mode where alerts are send to a cell phone or email address every few minutes) to several days (when the device is in stand-by mode, when no or very view location alerts are sent).  This will mean frequent battery recharges and require extremely quick responses by the authorities once your child is taken.  If either of these is neglected, the device could prove useless because it runs out of power just when you need it most.

3.  GPS Phones For Kids - As you might guess, a GPS phone is a cell phone that also has a GPS receiver installed in it.  Most modern cell phones already have this since the federal government passed a law requiring cell phone service providers to be able to determine the location of a 9-1-1 call.  Kids cell phones are normally cell phones specifically designed for kids.  They have fewer buttons and do not have a lot of the features that normal cell phones do.  They cannot send text messages, emails, surf the internet, take pictures, shoot video, or run any apps.  They really serve one function -  enable a child to communicate quickly with their parents.

A phone like this is going to come with its own service plan, maybe $20 a month depending on the service provider.  At the time the Wherifone first hit the market it ran around $100, meaning that the first year of service plus the cost of phone was going to run you $340 - a lot of money for a phone for your child.

When it gets down to it, chances are you are better off getting your kid a cheap-o pay-as-you go cell phone, download some free GPS tracking software for the phone, and pay for the minutes and data as you use it - which shouldn't be that much as long as your kids are well behaved and listen to your instructions.  You'll also have the peace of mind know that your child is going to be safe with their tracking phone.

GeoCaching GPS For Kids

The other kind of GPS that kids are likely to get involved in is geocaching. This is a very fun outdoor activity that is kind of a like a treasure hunt where your GPS is your treasure map and a small cache is your treasure. There is an online data base of caches that you can find in your area and all you need to do it find a cache near you and make your way to it using your GPS. This can be great way for kids to get outdoors and get some exercise, but it should definitely be done under adult supervision. Sometimes caches are located in hard to reach places or in places that take you far afield from your original location so having an adult with the child to help them make good decisions about which caches to pursue is a great idea.

One day we might be able to combine GPS tracking for kids and geocaching, but for now most geocaching devices are strictly data loggers and mapping devices.

I hope that was informative for any one looking for more information on GPS for kids. If you have any questions at all, please let me know in the comments section below.

Kids, GPS, and the Privacy Question

Another key component in asking if parents should use kids GPS devices is the question of privacy and privacy rights. Do children and teens have a fundamental right to "location privacy" or this something that parents have the right to know at all times?

This is obviously a difficult question, but I do think that the answer is that children do not have a fundamental right to location privacy - making the use of kids GPS acceptable philosophically.

Let me explain. When your child was first conceived, you knew exactly where they were at all times. They were inside the uterus. Know you didn't know the exact location in space that their cells inhabited, but you did know that wherever you (or your wife) were was exactly where your kids was. There was no chance that your child wasn't there and you knowledge of their position was complete.

Once they left the womb, from the ages of 0 to 6 months you or your spouse probably knew exactly where your child was at every moment of every day. If they weren't in your care or the care of your spouse directly you were within eye sight of your child's location and were constantly able to keep tabs on them.

As they grew still older they might have come under the care of a baby sitter or family member who promised to watch your child while you went on a date or attended to some important matter like a doctors appointment or a legal matter. The baby sitter or family member kept your child in one location or told you that they would take them to a local park at a certain time. You still knew exactly where your child was going to be, but this knowledge was one step removed. Your relative told you where they would be and you took their word for it.

As your kids grow older and older they will become increasingly responsible for letting you know where they are at any given point in time - but you still expect to know where they are. Even with a teenage son who is a senior in high school parents will want to know where he is and what he is doing. This seems very reasonable to me and is something that parents should expect to be able to do with their children.

This is where GPS comes into play. In all these circumstances where we rely on other individuals to let us know where our children are going to be - whether it be the child themselves, a babysitter, a relative, or even our kid's friend's parents - kids GPS seems to me to be a valid substitute for these individuals letting me know where my child is.

It is not that I don't trust these people to tell me where they are going to be, it is simply that a GPS device is a much more reliable and useful way to communicate where they are. Know that a child is at the park is very different from know that a child is now on the swings at the park. While a phone call to your baby sitter could get you this information, it just seems simpler and easier to give your child a GPS tracking device, like a GPS tracking watch, and check up on their location via the internet.

Then there is the obvious instances where your child is not where they are supposed to be. This can occur for a number of reasons and all of them leave a feeling of emptiness in our stomachs. You will want to know exactly where you child is in these circumstances and relying on a babysitter, relative, friend, or the child themselves will not do because in most situations none of them will be able to tell you because they will not know or will be prevented from telling you.

Kids GPS always* knows where your child is. It can be used to find them in a relatively short amount of time - saving you and your child from untold grief.

* Always is not entirely true, but it can always tell given certain conditions. It is just that these conditions are not always meet.

Kids GPS devices do not infringe on your child's privacy and are well within the rights of parents to use for safety and other parental obligations to their child.

Kids GPS - Should We Use It?

Asking this question is an important one. We don't want people thinking that because we use GPS devices for our children that we are somehow crazy or overbearing, but we certainly do want our children to be safe in case of an emergency. So the question becomes, should we ask our children to wear a GPS device?

I have to say that I am very torn on this topic and see pros and cons to both arguments. On the one hand there is just something useful about having that type of information at your fingertips. Imagine the peace of mind that you will have been scared out of your whits that you can't find your child and then being able to go to a computer and find their exact location. Heck, you probably don't even need a computer these days - a cell phone will probably do just as well. You could get real-time information on their whereabouts until you find their exact location.

That would be pretty significant peace of mind.

But then I can see that someone who might take and harm your child is just as likely to ditch any type of tracking device you might have given your child. That is, of course, unless it is well hidden in a tracking watch or other type of covert device. Something like a watch or cell phone will probably be removed by any abductor or family member (most missing child cases involve one of the child's parents) but something in the shoe or jacket of a child will probably go undetected.

Then there is the question of putting it on teens. Again, the safety issues remain. But the temptation to snoop on their whereabouts for discipline reasons might be very high for a suspicious parent. You might even be fully justified in doing so because your teen has lost your trust by repeatedly lying to you. But does that make it the best way to ensure the safety of your child and promote the behavior that you are seeking? It is probably the easiest, but it is also probably the kind that might create the most friction between you and your teen.

You certainly don't need that. Instead it might be better to employ other behavior modification tactics other than installing a GPS tracking device in your car or in their back pack. This could only lead to trouble.

But if your teen appreciates some of the risks out there then you might be able to get them to use the GPS device willingly. This could take a huge burden off of your shoulders and help you have more peace of mind when they ask to go out with friends in the evening on the weekends.

What do you think? Should we use GPS technology on our kids? Is it right to snoop on them when we think they are lying to use and using GPS technology to do that? Where do our rights and the rights of our children intersect?