Why mobile tracking apps are a great way of allowing extra independence for older children

There comes a time that all parents dread, when your child starts pushing more and more for greater independence and to do things without their parents.

This is all part of growing up, but a request for a chaperone free trip to the local shop or afternoon at the cinema with friends is still enough to make any parent nervous.

If you think that your child is old enough to make the step out into the world without you for a short while, there are a wide range of mobile tracking apps that can help give you that extra peace of mind and allow them a little extra freedom.

PocketFinder

PocketFinder can be used throughout Europe and works by using your child or teens mobile phone GPs to show you their location.

It also has a feature that raises an alert if your child is travelling at more than walking speed, for example, if they are in a moving vehicle.

Its simple to use and can be linked to your mobile device so you can see exactly where your child is in real time.

At around £8 per month, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s a small price to pay if you want to allow a little more freedom without having to worry.

Find my Friends / Locate my Friends

Available for both iOS and Android phones, these smart apps do pretty much the same thing as PocketFinder but without the moving vehicle alerts.

The app can be downloaded free of charge, and it's easy to add your child's mobile phone to the app so you can check they are where they say they are or if they’re in any trouble.

Paxie Band

Although this isn’t a mobile phone tracking app, the Paxie Band works in using GPS and can be tracked using your computer or mobile phone. The great thing about these clever bands is that you can pre-set boundaries that send an alert should your child stray too far from where they are supposed to be.

They also look very much like a fitness tracker and are available in a wide range of colours, making them a cool accessory that your child won’t mind wearing when they go out without you. The only downsized is that they do not offer two-way communication, so you’ll still need to equip your child with a mobile phone.

Tags: Mobile child trackers, child safety, GPS child trackers