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.

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.

I think the point is that he is perfectly safe making this walk, and it's not necessary to track him at all (whether by GPS or by phone call).

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.

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.

Seriously, if the walk from school to practice is so risky that a 13-year-old needs to call to tell you he/she has safely arrived, then it's probably not safe for him/her to walk it at all.

Two boys, both teens. We've never tracked them. I think it is creepy, and silly actually.

I use Find my Friends for DH and DS. Very reliable. They have to approve it on their devices.

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.

Anonymous wrote:We must be the only family that doesn't do that. I guess I can do find my phone in an emergency but I don't track my kids (ages 13 and 15). The truth is until my older one drives, I basically know where they are.

Op here, no you're not the only one. I have a 17 year old and never did it for him and still don't now that he's driving - but I have a very specific reason that I need to do it for my 12 year old who just got a phone. It has to do with him being on his own to catch the bus after after-care and going through a learning curve regarding keeping me in the loop and figuring out what time he needs to be on the bus. We are still working on it but in the meantime, for my own sanity, I need to know when he is and how to time myself to get him and make sure he's not late for practice. Once we figure this out I won't need to track him anymore.

We must be the only family that doesn't do that. I guess I can do find my phone in an emergency but I don't track my kids (ages 13 and 15). The truth is until my older one drives, I basically know where they are.

Google's family link app. You install it on your phone and you can see there location plus what apps there using and for how long.

Anonymous wrote:Life360

We use this one in our family (kids and parents too)

We use find my friends.

Life360

Google tom's guide

I know this has been discussed but I can't find any of the threads.

Can anyone recommend an android app that I can use to track my kids whereabouts via his cell phone?

Thanks!