Families For Life | Does tracking my kid's location make me crazy?!

Do you remember those days when you told your parents you were studying with a friend but you were actually somewhere else? In the past, when we told our parents where we were, they just had to take our word for it.

With technology and location tracking becoming more prevalent, it’s a bit harder for kids these days to get away with their mischief, but it’s definitely a relief for parents! Apps like Google Maps and Life360 are now available to help you monitor your child’s real-time location, which can alleviate some parental anxiety.

However, just because you can track your child’s location now, should you? Although location tracking has its benefits, it also comes with its own set of concerns. Let’s discuss them!

The Pros

  • Safety

This is likely why you’d want to track your child in the first place! If your child is in danger or needs your immediate help, you can come to the rescue easily with their real-time location.

You’ll also be alerted if your child is spending time in unsafe areas they shouldn't be, allowing you to check if they’re okay.

  • Promotes accountability

Knowing they're being monitored can deter your child from engaging in risky behaviours and disregarding your instructions. If they do act against your rules, they'll need to take responsibility and explain their actions instead of avoiding accountability as the proof lies in their GPS location. This also encourages them to reconsider any dicey plans they may have had in mind!

  • Peace of mind

With their real-time location right at your fingertips, you’ll know if your child caught their bus on time, arrived safely at school, and made it home at a reasonable hour. This eliminates the anxiety of constantly wondering about your child's safety and well-being.


The Cons

  • Impedes independence

When children know that their parents are always aware of their every move and ready to step in at any moment, they may become reliant on this safety net and less motivated to figure things out on their own.

As your child grows older, you should pull back a little and allow room for independence and self-reliance. Constantly monitoring their every move and intervening immediately whenever they encounter a minor problem can hinder their ability to learn essential problem-solving skills.

  • Harms your relationship

Constant surveillance can create friction between you and your child. Without privacy or space, it can induce anxiety and make them overly cautious. It may also dwindle trust between you, as they may feel their independence is being doubted, which can lead to them becoming more secretive. This lack of trust and increased secrecy can strain your relationship further.

  • Gives a false sense of security

Kids these days are quite tech-savvy and might know how to navigate tracking apps better than you do. In other words, they can find loopholes to trick the app! You may think they are at home when, in reality, they could be elsewhere after disabling location features or spoofing their GPS location.

  • Striking The Right Balance

It’s clear that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to track your child’s location and it definitely doesn’t make you crazy; it all boils down to how you do it. The most important step is to inform your child that you wish to use a tracking app to know their whereabouts. This is better than doing it secretly and having them find out later. Be transparent and clear about how you will use their location information, and be open to compromise! This not only teaches your child about consent but also shows that you value their boundaries.

It’s also important to not become overly-reliant on technology. Don’t let the app replace communication. Encourage your child to share where they’ve been, rather than just relying on the app, which may not always be accurate! This helps to maintain open communication, build mutual trust, and strengthen - not harm - your relationship.

At the end of the day, every child is different. You know best how much freedom to grant your child and how much tracking is necessary. The key is to ensure both you and your child are comfortable with the approach!