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Original poster

Tracker for High School child

115 replies

nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:27

Hi After some recommendations.

As username suggests, DD does not have a smartphone for high school. She has a new NOKIA which she can make free calls and free texts unlimited on. Sensible child and she's happy with this. Phones are banned in school anyway.

However, I could do with some sort of way of tracking her if for whatever reason she doesn't come out on time/phone dies etc (doubt it as it's got 5 days battery life!) Her school is 9 miles away, not on a bus route so I have to collect/drop off but also have another child 3 miles from that school to collect after her.

Her phone will not take apps so the likes of Life 360 not an option.

I have an android phone so can't so Apple Tags.

Is there anything suitable for android that works in the same way? I've had a quick google but can't work out whether the tags would work out and about or they're only suitable for finding your car keys in the house!

Any recommendations would be appreciated thank you.

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 02/09/2024 16:30

So why does she need to be tracked? It seems very intrusive. Could you not just do the old fashioned way and text to ask where she is, if needed?

BarbaraHoward · 02/09/2024 16:31

I think if you've made the decision to go with a dumbphone (which is a perfectly valid decision and one I'll be considering when the time comes), then you need to accept you can't track them. It's a bit OTT, just make sure she knows what to do in an emergency.

TheClawDecides · 02/09/2024 16:33

Christ, is this what life has come to for children now?

If her phone dies, she'll just make her way home surely? Or ask a friend if she can use theirs?

Do you suffer from anxiety? Because that's the reason normally given for this sort of intrusive behaviour by parents.

cestlavielife · 02/09/2024 16:34

Buy her a portable phone bank charger . Simple .

Needanewname42 · 02/09/2024 16:34

Why do you not trust her?

Any tracker airtag / samsung tag etc is going to feel very intrusive and likely to get lost accidentally or accidentally on purpose.

cestlavielife · 02/09/2024 16:34

Or tractive dog tracker....

Original poster
nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:35

We live rurally. If she's not there where I collect her (let's say held up by the head teacher or something) I could check she's still on school grounds and if she does start walking I can see which route she's chosen to take.

Why is it OTT for me to track her but for someone giving their child a smartphone it's perfectly valid? That makes no sense.

OP posts:
rainbowunicorn · 02/09/2024 16:36

Why do you need to track your child? Seems intrusive and OTT.

titchy · 02/09/2024 16:36

nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:35

We live rurally. If she's not there where I collect her (let's say held up by the head teacher or something) I could check she's still on school grounds and if she does start walking I can see which route she's chosen to take.

Why is it OTT for me to track her but for someone giving their child a smartphone it's perfectly valid? That makes no sense.

Wouldn't she just text you if she was delayed Confused

Original poster
nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:36

I do trust her. She's asked me to get one because she only has a dumbphone and feels safer knowing that I know where she is.

I don't have anxiety.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/09/2024 16:37

Tile have options for tracking airline luggage, so presumably they'd have a far enough range to track your daughter.

BarbaraHoward · 02/09/2024 16:37

I've just reread your post - I'd assumed you were nervous about her navigating sketchy public transport! Definitely no need for this for a child who gets a lift. If she doesn't show up, you go into the school to ask if they know, and then when she shows up after chatting too long you read her the riot act. Confused

Kpo58 · 02/09/2024 16:37

I wouldn't want to track my child via smart phone either (unless I have a kid that keeps loosing the phone and that's just so that I could get the phone back).

rainbowunicorn · 02/09/2024 16:37

She can text you or you text her. You don't need to be tracking her. Buy her a power bank in case her phone runs out of charge.

Original poster
nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:37

titchy · 02/09/2024 16:36

Wouldn't she just text you if she was delayed Confused

Show quote history

We live rurally!!! There's not always signal.

Christ, I didn't think they'd be such a backlash to me asking a perfectly reasonable question on behalf of my super lovely and super sensible daughter.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 02/09/2024 16:37

nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:35

We live rurally. If she's not there where I collect her (let's say held up by the head teacher or something) I could check she's still on school grounds and if she does start walking I can see which route she's chosen to take.

Why is it OTT for me to track her but for someone giving their child a smartphone it's perfectly valid? That makes no sense.

Tracking a teen child in any way is intrusive.
If she is being held back by the Head, just wait where you pick her up then call her.

Soontobe60 · 02/09/2024 16:38

nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:37

We live rurally!!! There's not always signal.

Christ, I didn't think they'd be such a backlash to me asking a perfectly reasonable question on behalf of my super lovely and super sensible daughter.

Show quote history

So a tracker wouldnt work then!

AudiobookListener · 02/09/2024 16:38

Much more important and healthy to have an alternative way of getting home in an emergency. So, taxi fare and practice how to order a cab, etc., or practice the bus routes needed, or an arrangement with a friend. Then if you miss each other you will know she'll get home safely anyway.

mitogoshi · 02/09/2024 16:38

Unless she has sen and/or can't be trusted i can't see why she needs tracking? I really don't think we should be tracking children anyway. Believe it or not children managed before phones

DrunkTinkerbell40s · 02/09/2024 16:39

I see absolutely no issue with you tracking your CHILD.
I track mine but only look at it if I notice they're not home when they should be, to check they haven't been in an accident or gone somewhere after school.
There was recently a story about four teenagers who didn't make it home, their car had crashed in a ditch and they couldn't be found. I bet their families would do anything to go back and have a way to track them. My family all have me on their tracking apps, if I have an accident, I want them to find me. Likewise, I have all of them. We don't use them to spy on each other!

sanityisamyth · 02/09/2024 16:40

BarbaraHoward · 02/09/2024 16:31

I think if you've made the decision to go with a dumbphone (which is a perfectly valid decision and one I'll be considering when the time comes), then you need to accept you can't track them. It's a bit OTT, just make sure she knows what to do in an emergency.

This. I chose for DS10 to have a smartphone so that I CAN track him and make sure he's getting to and from safely, as well to his after-school hobbies to meet him there. If you choose not to get a smartphone, then you are also accepting that you can't use the technology which is available.

DrunkTinkerbell40s · 02/09/2024 16:40

I am truly shocked by the responses on here! Everyone I know tracks their kids! I'd much rather that than have no idea where they are and worry.

DrunkTinkerbell40s · 02/09/2024 16:41

I would get a smart phone to be honest. It makes this much easier.

Original poster
nosmartphone · 02/09/2024 16:41

BarbaraHoward · 02/09/2024 16:37

I've just reread your post - I'd assumed you were nervous about her navigating sketchy public transport! Definitely no need for this for a child who gets a lift. If she doesn't show up, you go into the school to ask if they know, and then when she shows up after chatting too long you read her the riot act. Confused

I don't have the time window. She comes out at 3pm. I have to be in another village by 3.15 to pick up the other child. Then I have to get back home to get to work. It's not about a trust issue with her.

No high school would know where a pupil was at 3.15. The doors open and off they go.

Sketchy phone signal. Daughter has asked so that if I've already had to leave, she can start walking and I know where to drive back to. She can't physically walk home, it's 9 miles! No bus service.

Bloody hell. I'm the sensible parent on here not giving my kid a smartphone and now I"m getting the nth degree!

OP posts:
Nomither · 02/09/2024 16:41

I'm 100% with you OP. It makes my DS feel safer too when he starts his new school, he knows I know where he is if he ever gets into any trouble.

I think Android tags are best is she has an old style phone.