Could I use an apple AirTag to track DS?

[cornflakesandtea]

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?

We got rid of life 360 unless your kids are on unlimited data it's a total drain. We just use find my iPhone. What is he doing that you need to track him when he's not old enough to have a phone?

I think it sounds like a good tracker until he gets a phone - especially if you’ll find a use for it once he doesn’t need it. Stick it in the inner pocket of his bag.

They cost about £25, would hardly make him a standout target for mugging - and who would know he had it? It’s worth it for the peace of mind of seeing his little dot make its way home safely.

I know on our kids school trip I was pretty much the only parent that hadn’t airtagged their child. Most put it in the coat pocket.

Walking home from school on days when there is someone at home to welcome him.

None of his friends have phones so no one to phone or text and he has plenty of consoles and technology at home that he doesn't need to play games on it. He won't exactly be emailing anyone. Why would he need a phone?

So you can track him! It was very normal in Dts school that kids got phones of all sorts in the birthday before they went into y6

Loads of DDs friends in year 5 had them for their school trip. About half the class (us too, and has been previously said, useful for other things like putting in suitcase on holiday)

I live in Switzerland and here kids are expected to walk to school on their own almost as soon as they start kindergarten when they’re 4 years old. I have an AirTag in DS pocket. It’s not super accurate but I can usually see when he arrives at school, a couple of points on the way from school to day care and then shows him in day care for the afternoon. It was tremendously helpful the day he and his mate decided to play in the village instead of going to kindergarten, he hasn’t done that again!

It's not completely false though. As the screenshot explains, the find my tech that Apple use works by using the network of Apple devices to ping locations.

The phone used to track the airtag needs to be running a certain iOS and unless it's changed since I bought mine, iPhones 11 and above are more accurate than older devices.

I have an AirTags myself and for use locally when walking the dog or in more rural areas, Its shit.

Target for what? Surely that depends on where you live?

They absolutely do. It doesn't need to be your iPhone, they crowd source from other iPhones, but they need to be in range of one to track.

I put an air tag in my daughters back pack- it's small so no one knows it's there. I watched her take the train to London and back last week with her class! I also watch her walk home, works well.

Why would he need a phone?

For the same reason you want to track him. He can't use an air tag to contact you if he runs into difficulties nor can you contact him on an air tag.

Ive thought about the microchipping kids concept. The heartbreak of missing children is unbearable, and possible to eradicate.

On balance I think I would. Maybe getting it removed by age 16....

I have no issue with security cameras either but I accept some people do.