Should parents install a cell phone locator on their child’s phone?
Technology has changed the way of child’s communication. Nowadays, children prefer texting and instant messaging than making a phone call. Meanwhile, it’s also changed the ways that parents must parent their child.
Although previously a parent might have been limited to calling friends’ houses or driving around looking for their child that missed curfew. However, today’s parents can use a cell phone locator to locate their child and get the exact location of their child’s phone.
Should parents locate their child by using cell phone locator?
Tracking technology can allow your child to stay safe while camping, hiking, or participating in other activities.
The younger your children are, the more sense it makes to know exactly where they are at all times. For example, you don’t want your 8-year-old wandering far enough away from home to get lost. However, as kids cross the threshold into the teen years and high school, parents often feel conflicted. Is it really a good idea to always locate your child’s whereabouts? Are you keeping them safe and accountable, or interfering with their independence?
A child who feels claustrophobic may resort to deception in order to achieve some independence and privacy. It’s easy for a child to leave a phone at their friend’s house while both of them go off to some other location. Other child may shut down the cell phone locator in case of letting you keep locating them.
locating your child whereabouts not only just lets you know where your child is spending their free time but also keeps your child safe. It can let you know where your teen is immediately in an emergency. For example, if you and your child are separated during a natural disaster, like a hurricane or earthquake, a cell phone locator can allow you to locate each other.
It’s also worth remembering that child can be kidnapped. A cell phone locator can help locate your child if they are in danger. But if your child is feeling overly confined and devising ways to avoid being located, they may turn off their cell phone or shut down the cell phone locator. It may be better to give your child some space and privacy if it means that you’ll be able to access their location in a true emergency.
How do parents talk to their child about locating?
When it comes to the question of whether or not to talk to your child about locating, the answer is that it’s almost always better to let them know what you’re doing. Child are often more tech-savvy than their parents, and even a tech-savvy parent won’t know their child’s device as intimately as the teen who is using every day. Your child will almost certainly eventually discover that you’re locating them.
A better option is to have an honest discussion with your child. Explain why you want to use a cell phone locator. Outline your safety concerns and explain when and how you intend to use a cell phone locator to pay more attention to them. Because you’re the parent, you don’t have to negotiate on whether or not you can locate your child. You want to keep them safe and you should make it clear that this is a non-negotiable condition of their continued use of the phone.
When should parents stop locating their child?
If you use a cell phone locator when your child is 13, should you still be using it when they’re 17? If not, when is the right time to stop to locate your child? There’s really no one correct answer to this question. In many situations, it is the best not to stop locating. After all, no matter how mature your child is, locating still serves an important purpose when it comes to safety.
Final thoughts
A cell phone locator can’t be a substitute for trust and honesty between parent and child. It’s important to talk to your child about your concerns, about why you need to know where they are, and about why they need to be honest about what they’re doing and responsible about complying with curfews and restrictions. Every child and family are different and will have different tracking needs, but used judiciously, a cell phone locator is a useful tool to have in your parenting toolbox.