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Original poster

Could I use an apple AirTag to track DS?

38 replies

cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 14:57

As the title states really. DS (10) is in y5. We want him to start walking home from school from September when he is 11 and in y6 (approx. 15 mins, his older sister will be 13 and will be home at the same time) and will be giving him a phone for this purpose then. He's very aware of the journey but has never done it alone. Until then, I was thinking of getting an AirTag to track him and allow him to walk home alone on days when me or DH are off work. Can the AirTag be used like this? And does this sound reasonable?

OP posts:
Cas112 · 22/03/2023 15:01

There is literally an app 'life 360' it's called, that is for this reason

Rather than spending the money on an AirTag

Jules912 · 22/03/2023 15:02

I tried this for DS but as it relies on being near an iphone it doesn't work that well even though the route home is quite busy.

Original poster
cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 15:04

Cas112 · 22/03/2023 15:01

There is literally an app 'life 360' it's called, that is for this reason

Rather than spending the money on an AirTag

So what do I put in DSs school bag to track him?

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soberfabulous · 22/03/2023 15:04

Jules912 · 22/03/2023 15:02

I tried this for DS but as it relies on being near an iphone it doesn't work that well even though the route home is quite busy.

Loads of my friends have the AirTags for their cats...assume they are not near iPhones...how do they work then?

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 15:06

If he is just walking home, no way would I give him a phone, never mind an AirTag. My DC were encouraged by primary school to start making their way to and from school by themselves in year 5/6, and that would include a bus journey for some. Phones make children a target.

St3amtrain · 22/03/2023 15:07

I use both Life360 and air tag.
I can currently see my son’s air tag location in school 4 miles away and it’s accurate and up to date.
however it does rely on signal both ends

CoteDAzur · 22/03/2023 15:11

"as it relies on being near an iphone it doesn't work that well"

That is completely false. AirTags don't need an iPhone nearby. People put them in their luggage and track them when airlines send said luggage to another airport by mistake.

PeekAtYou · 22/03/2023 15:12

You'd pop the AirTag in his bag (assuming that he'd always bring one home).

However I wouldn't want to make him a target for mugging. Would he show other kids at school or tell them about it ?

It's been a while since my kids were at primary but is there a rule about smart watches ? That might be a bit more subtle? Does school allow phones? My ds was in Year 6, 6 years ago but he was allowed to bring a phone to school and hand it in to his class teacher (turned off) who would return it at the end of the day. Assuming that he would take a phone to secondary, this might be the best way to practice ?

SecondtimeMama29 · 22/03/2023 15:13

If he knows about, yes. But if he doesn't, an alarm goes off on the iPhone of the person your tracking to say their being tracked.

Cas112 · 22/03/2023 15:14

@cornflakesandtea

No just down load the app on to both your phones. Make sure his location is on and you will see where he is on the app at all times as long as he has his phone on him. Have a look at the app it will explain all to you

SecondtimeMama29 · 22/03/2023 15:14

CoteDAzur · 22/03/2023 15:11

"as it relies on being near an iphone it doesn't work that well"

That is completely false. AirTags don't need an iPhone nearby. People put them in their luggage and track them when airlines send said luggage to another airport by mistake.

😂😂😂

SecondtimeMama29 · 22/03/2023 15:15

If you get him an iPhone, you can use find my friends.

Stickmansmum · 22/03/2023 15:17

CoteDAzur · 22/03/2023 15:11

"as it relies on being near an iphone it doesn't work that well"

That is completely false. AirTags don't need an iPhone nearby. People put them in their luggage and track them when airlines send said luggage to another airport by mistake.

You are wrong I’m afraid. It needs iPhones nearby to piggyback on. So the assumption is that someone if not 1000 people nearby the luggage have an iPhone within range constantly.

Original poster
cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 15:20

He doesn't have a phone yet. It's something we are going to look at in the summer but he doesn't need one just yet.

Does anyone know of a GPS tracker that I can buy instead of the AirTag? It's unlikely that the AirTag would connect to an iPhone on his route home as it isn't a very busy route.

OP posts:
Jules912 · 22/03/2023 15:20

I tried it because I don't want DS to have a phone yet, and really don't want him taking it to school for the sake of a 10 minute journey. Usually it has him at school then jumps, I now only look at it if he's later than I expect.

WendyCraig · 22/03/2023 15:20

Yes you can do this. Presumably you're not planning to do it without his knowledge.

They are handy things to have anyway so you'll find another use once he gets a phone. I found my stolen car using ours!

SecondtimeMama29 · 22/03/2023 15:23

cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 15:20

He doesn't have a phone yet. It's something we are going to look at in the summer but he doesn't need one just yet.

Does anyone know of a GPS tracker that I can buy instead of the AirTag? It's unlikely that the AirTag would connect to an iPhone on his route home as it isn't a very busy route.

It doesn't need to connect to an iPhone! It's not a tile!

WendyCraig · 22/03/2023 15:24

SecondtimeMama29 · 22/03/2023 15:23

It doesn't need to connect to an iPhone! It's not a tile!

Show quote history

It needs to be within Bluetooth range of an iphone- any iphone- so about 30 feet. Fine in a city but it won't work somewhere remote.

okayah · 22/03/2023 15:30

Yes I do this, the AirTag is in an inside pocket of his backpack.

WendyCraig · 22/03/2023 15:31

A satellite tracker would work but they are really expensive.

SoupDragon · 22/03/2023 15:32

From the Apple website:

Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map.

so yes, it does rely on being near other devices.

SoupDragon · 22/03/2023 15:34

cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 15:20

He doesn't have a phone yet. It's something we are going to look at in the summer but he doesn't need one just yet.

Does anyone know of a GPS tracker that I can buy instead of the AirTag? It's unlikely that the AirTag would connect to an iPhone on his route home as it isn't a very busy route.

If you're going to get him a phone in the summer, he will have the phone for you to track when he starts walking home in September. I don't think you need a tag (unless you're not getting him a smartphone)

EspeciallyDedicated · 22/03/2023 15:34

If he's going to have an iphone there's no point, you can use the inbuilt Find My app. The airtags aren't great unless there are iPhones in the vicinity, DS has one in his wallet but when he lost it the signal was poor and we couldn't get an accurate location.

Grumpi · 22/03/2023 15:43

Options:

iPhone or other android phone with a tracker APP - all that’s needed is a phone on both ends.

Airtag - requires you to have an iPhone.

Other GPS tracker - will require the tracker and an App on your phone to be able to track.

smart watch with a built in tracker - again will require a phone on your side with an App to actually track it.

all of these options rely on some type of app and wifi connection / phone signal.

Personally I would get DS a phone which is the same operating system as your yours (Apple if you have Apple / android if you have android etc), this is going to be the ideal to avoid any faff with incompatible tech / apps. It doesn’t have to be the same model.

I would then use a tracking app.

if you don’t want him to have a phone, next best is a tracker on a watch. I don’t know of any but they must exist - a Google will show the best ones.

At 11 a phone is probably a good idea but it doesn’t have to be a top of the range one. Depending on money I would combine a phone with a smart watch, sync it all up.

or do what I’m planning on doing and microchipping my kids.

joking - but I actually 100% would if it was a thing.

Original poster
cornflakesandtea · 22/03/2023 15:46

We have an old iPhone 8 that needs the screen replacing that he can use. I just worry he will get distracted with it at school, even if it's just a case of having it out when he shouldn't or dropping it etc. I thought the AirTag would be less enticing to him or others plus, as a PP said, we would definitely find another use for it once we give DS a phone.

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