App for tracking my kid via phone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been using Find Friends for a number of years. DS is 16. He takes the metro to school (MD to DC).

But it really isn't just about safety. It is truly a convenience. If I have to pick up DS at metro, I can see where he is on the line so I can plan my trip to the station. I also like knowing where my husband is...so I don't have to call him and ask when he will be home. I just check it to see where he is on his commute.

Those of you who think it is creepy are probably creepy already. I don't see anything creepy about it, unless you have a stalker mentality.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP. We have a similar situation. My 13 year old walks from school to sports practice and he is supposed to call me when he arrives. I would say he is 75%. On times he doesn't call me, I call them and make sure he is there. He is getting better. But I don't track his phone --- I just know when to expect the call and if he doesn't do it, I have to follow up.

Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

What is the big deal? My parents and husband all have it on all of us. It helps when a car breaks down. A few times I couldn't exactly tell my husband where I was and he tracked me (sometimes not exact but he got close enough to where I could see him). Its helpful to see if he is driving home or at work. Its helpful when I'm out shopping and forget to let him know and not answering my phone so he doesn't have to worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not risky - but it's probably a 15 minute walk and I feel better if I know he arrived. It also teaches responsibility - you should call me when you arrive.

Would it be better if I just tracked his phone? I don't think that teaches him anything. Or that I drove to pick him up and drive him half a mile? I also don't think that teaches him anything.

So, I'm teaching him independence and also responsibility. I think it's one of my better parenting decisions, actually.

How does making him call when he gets there teach responsibility? I'm asking sincerely. It doesn't seem to me that it teaches responsibility, unless you define responsibility as "remembering to do what somebody told you to do".

[Anonymous]

Can people not see how these apps make people more anxious, not less? We use these technologies and come to think they are necessary. Which leads to the feeling that situations aren't safe without the technologies. Which, ironically, makes us feel less safe (and in need of monitoring) in the world. Then what happens when DS leaves his phone in his school locker? You panic.

[Anonymous]

Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.

That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.

I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.

That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.

I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.

...and this was a courtesy/skill my parents expected of me 40 years ago. Amazing what was accomplished without tracking apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life360

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.

That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.

I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.

...and this was a courtesy/skill my parents expected of me 40 years ago. Amazing what was accomplished without tracking apps.

We all had common courtesy but the find my friends makes it easier. I can see if my parents are home or out and where they are if I need them or they need me. Same with my spouse.

[Anonymous]

Right!! I don't know how to paste the person I am responding to-- it in the PP that requires my kid to text when he arrives at practice

And I don't track- I want him to manage it and let me know on his own. If he doesn't then I can call him or whatever but I don't track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right!! I don't know how to paste the person I am responding to-- it in the PP that requires my kid to text when he arrives at practice

And I don't track- I want him to manage it and let me know on his own. If he doesn't then I can call him or whatever but I don't track.

Good for you. That wasn't the question from OP, was it? Do you always have this much trouble staying on track, or do you just generally like to chime into a conversation and belittle people? Just answer the question or move along.

[Anonymous]

Life360

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.

That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.

I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.

I agree with you completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life360

+1 We love this - it works across my iphone and his android phone. Our whole family has it, so I can gauge when my husband is coming home, know when my kid got home from school, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can people not see how these apps make people more anxious, not less? We use these technologies and come to think they are necessary. Which leads to the feeling that situations aren't safe without the technologies. Which, ironically, makes us feel less safe (and in need of monitoring) in the world. Then what happens when DS leaves his phone in his school locker? You panic.

Or, if your kid takes off for a walk - you don't spend the next four days panicked looking for him (ahem, college gardens, ahem).