Watching over children is a difficult task at the best of times, but there are many situations where being able to know the whereabouts of your child is extremely useful for ensuring peace of mind. Whether a small child with a tendency to run off, or an older child who is expanding their boundaries, most parents would appreciate the ability to see where their child is and check they are in the right place. Child trackers give parents that ability.
In Australia, an estimated 20,000 children go missing every year. Individuals between the ages of 13 and 17 were recorded to be the most likely to go missing, as half of the missing person incidents reported between 2008 and 2015 were in this age group. Although more than 60% of individuals declared missing are found within 48 hours, the search and uncertainty can be a gruelling experience for parents and loved ones.
Determined to improve the quality of life in all possible aspects, technology today offers the option of keeping track of a child at all times. Parents can now check and log the whereabouts of their children in real time. The technological devices which keep the location of children under surveillance are called child trackers.
Child trackers are GPS (Global Positioning Software) – and in some cases, Bluetooth – enabled devices which allow parents to monitor the movements and locations of their children, especially in social situations. Child trackers are small and often inconspicuous. They are generally incorporated into accessories children would normally use such as headbands, wristbands, watches and pins which can be attached to clothes and bags.
A Child Tracker. Source
Features of a Child Tracker
Child trackers come with a variety of features, as they are designed to suit the needs of a wide market. All child trackers contain a GPS – or in some cases, Bluetooth – feature. This base feature is designed to ascertain the location of a child at any point in time. While the features available on a tracker vary with the brand, some additional features of child trackers are:
- GPS Logging
- Alerts and Notifications
- Two-way communication
- Panic/SOS alerts
- Geo-fencing
What Are They Used For?
Child trackers serve one primary purpose: keeping tabs on the whereabouts of a child. This primary purpose can be further understood under two broad categories:
Surveillance
Child trackers help parents to monitor the whereabouts of their children at all times. Whether in close proximity or further away, the child tracker allows parents to maintain necessary surveillance over their kids. This ability to keep an eye on the location of kids at all times gives parents more peace of mind and can help them transition when it is time for older children to extend their boundaries.
A Child Wearing a Child Tracker. Source
Safety
Safety is a global issue. In Australia, statistics show there has been a 7.7% decrease in kidnapping and abduction since 2014. This decrease occurred the largest in a group of persons aged 10-14 years. However, while these numbers are thankfully decreasing, there are still many other situations that could be improved with a child tracker. Parents with children who have a tendency to wander off, older children and young teenagers allowed out by themselves for the first time, or children who walk to school are a few examples of children who might wear a safety tracker to help give their parents peace of mind. Some child trackers come with additional features such as panic/SOS alerts, which allows the child to quickly send a distress signal, and geo-fencing, which allows parents to set virtual boundaries that send alerts if children go outside them.
Who Makes Them?
Child trackers are manufactured by a variety of technological companies. These companies often manufacture gadgets such as smartwatches, pet trackers and overall smart wear.
Some of these companies include:
- ZyTree
- SkyNanny
- Wonbo technology
- Trax Retail
Child trackers come in such a range of quality and features that it’s worth the time spent considering which device and price range is best suited to your individual needs. Child trackers can be extremely useful, and while every parent hopes not to need one, it’s impossible to predict when they could come in handy. With a small piece of unobtrusive technology, parents can have a little more peace of mind with the ability to find out their child’s location whenever they need to know.
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