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?