Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Anyone used apple airtag to track their kids (not secretly)

41 replies

AdmiralButterfly · 31/08/2022 13:53

DD not allowed to take phone to school (their rule) but as they are going in by public transport (year 7, new school) I would like to be able to track her. Thought about an apple airtag on her keyring but read they ping if away from tracking phone for too long as anti stalking measure, and obv don't want it to ping in class and get her into trouble. Anyone got experience of this?

OP posts:
Barkingdog2022 · 31/08/2022 14:15

I am doing this as the same age and situation with phones at school. I have one on my dog and it works really well so I thought I would get one for my child. Again he knows about it as at primary school I used to track him on the phone. They work well.

Original poster
AdmiralButterfly · 31/08/2022 14:28

Does it beep though if he is away from you for a while? I am worried it will beep when she is at school.

OP posts:
waterrat · 31/08/2022 14:55

Could you articulate why you need it ? Bearing in mind all us adults coped without phones.

Why not experiment with her doing school journey without one and see how it goes

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Secondary education
Rockbird · 31/08/2022 15:00

It doesn't make a sound, you just get a notification on your phone or watch.

Glitteringapples · 31/08/2022 15:04

DS2 has mild SN and has a tendency to wander off on days out so we have one for him in a apple type watch holder which he wears when we go out as a family. It’s proved very useful this holiday!

MissyB1 · 31/08/2022 15:04

We use “find my friend” app. Ds likes it as well because he can see how far away I am if I’m coming to pick him up from somewhere.

Barkingdog2022 · 31/08/2022 15:06

No it does beep. It does sometimes come up with a notification when you are far away from the item.

Original poster
AdmiralButterfly · 31/08/2022 15:06

Hi @waterrat - nope, but thanks for the opportunity to explain myself to you.

Thanks all - some good options to explore.

OP posts:
Cheerybigbottom · 31/08/2022 15:07

My DH has suggested this for our ds going into year 7. Loses phone a lot, DH would like to be able to go and get him if he gets the wrong bus or just gets into any kind of panic. Ds is autistic and branching out independently but not reliable with a phone so we are thinking about adding one to schoolbag with his permission (hoping he doesn't lose both phone and bag at same time lol)

LondonQueen · 31/08/2022 15:08

Why does she need a tracker? My AirTag beeps on a morning when I take my keys out of the faraday box, I assume it's because it's not been connected to my phone overnight? So about 8 hours max.

mountainsunsets · 31/08/2022 15:09

I think they can beep, so probably not the best idea for school.

MaisyMary77 · 31/08/2022 15:10

DS has one in his jacket pocket. He’s 18, has autism and severe learning difficulties. He has a tendency to run off very suddenly. It’s nice knowing I can track him if I lose him! It won’t ping in class, it only pings if I go on the app and get it to play a sound.

FancyFelix · 31/08/2022 15:32

My DS had one in his school bag last year (Y6) as he was walking to and from school alone. He's never mentioned it pinging in school.

autumnleavesbythewindow · 31/08/2022 16:10

FancyFelix · 31/08/2022 15:32

My DS had one in his school bag last year (Y6) as he was walking to and from school alone. He's never mentioned it pinging in school.

Same here. DD is Year 6 and we are waiting for secondary for a phone (when we will switch to the findmyphone app) so this has allowed her independence to walk to school and we can check she made it ok. Also used when away on trips so we can see when she's almost home as trip leaders for clubs/school can't be updating all the time. It's worth noting it's not GPS, only works when it bounces off of other peoples iPhones so it's great in a city or busy town, but may be less effective in more rural areas.

Yes I know I walked alone from 5 years old and went off and played in the woods etc for hours in the 80s, but that's not the world we live in now and this makes life more relaxed for all of us. She is fully aware and likes it (for now!)

lailamaria · 31/08/2022 16:12

op they aren't allowed their phones used in school, the school cannot dictate whether they take them in or not i guarantee so many kids will have their phones they just can't use them

Supercal00 · 31/08/2022 17:17

Even if kids take joins when they aren’t allowed it’s not worth the risk. Ours confiscate them. For £30 it’s worth trying the AirTag for peace of mind

Supercal00 · 31/08/2022 17:28

*phones

Frazzled2207 · 31/08/2022 17:34

Mine don’t beep unless I ask them to from my phone (to find if lost for example)
perhaps it’s a setting.

I’d put one in their bag. You will be able to track as long as they are within bluetooth range if anyone with Bluetooth on

TimeToInterfere · 31/08/2022 17:36

We have one on our spare house keys. DC wore them on a lanyard for a morning once and I didn't get any complaints from the teacher.

swimmingincustard · 31/08/2022 17:48

I use them on my primary/pre-school DC for busy days out at theme parks etc.

I also intend to put one in DDs school bag for walking home alone (year 5). I've even used it this Summer to let her know it's time to come home for tea 😬

I'll use it on my luggage when she's old enough for a mobile.

abblie · 31/08/2022 17:51

There are children's watches that have trackers in them if you google you get a few options that would best suit your phone etc

HappyAsASandboy · 31/08/2022 17:52

We have airbags on some keys that stay in the house mostly, linked to DH phone. They do bleep if he's away for a few nights, but if he sleeps at home I have never heard them bleep in the day while he's at work.

abovedecknotbelow · 31/08/2022 17:54

Mine aren't allowed phones in school as in on, and being used. They are allowed them off in their bags and turn them off and on at the gate. We use Life360

Andromachehadabadday · 31/08/2022 17:56

Just a note OP, dd went to a really strict school who said no mobile phones, at all. one day she was really late from school, should have taken her 10 mins but she didn’t come home. The first question school asked was ‘have you tried her mobile?’. I pointed out their rule was no mobile phones at all. Turned out they fully expected the children to carry phones and have them switched off. They had that rule to try and make sure the kids didn’t even dare take them out of their pockets.

Dd always had her phone on her from then

alrightfella · 31/08/2022 18:17

I would just use life 360 and get her to turn her phone off outside school gate, maybe have a zipped compartment in her bag it could go in

Swipe left for the next trending thread