Help! Need a tracker like an air tag for 10 year old

[Brimofsprouts]

My DC has started going out by himself and I would like to put a tracker on him (he is OK with this!). None of us have apple / iPhone so air tags are out. I have Tile to find stuff like the remote but I think for being out of Bluetooth range you're reliant on other Tile users to locate where things are.

I can't get Google Maps to show location for more than 24 hrs at a time so it is a faff to keep having to switch it on; it is also dependent on DC's phone being on. If anyone has any advice about any gadgets to recommend (and also why Google maps isn't linking for more than 24 hrs, as I am permanently linked to my adult family members) I would be extremely grateful. I am hopeless with technology so apologise for the poor wording! Thank you x

I don't know about physical trackers, but Life360 have (reliable) live tracking, and you can share your live location through Whatsapp for up to 8 hours (just make sure that in settings, the location permissions are on 'always allow'.)

Thank you @xmasdealhunter is live 360 an app? Can it go longer than 8 hrs not through WhatsApp? X

It's an app, yes, and it goes on 24/7 unless the app is deleted/location permissions turned off. You and your DC will both need to download it on your phones. It's very easy to use, but you will basically set up a 'family circle' on your phone and be given a code to share with your DC, so they are able to join too.
Life360 | Family Tracking App | Location Sharing & Family Safety
Don't bother with any of the paid plans, stick with the free one since your DC isn't old enough to drive yet (the paid ones include driving alerts etc)

If he has an android phone are you using the Google family app? Its good, as long as the cold device is on and has network.

I use Samsung smart tag for my DC. Its quite cheap and works reasonably well (sometimes would not refresh but generally ok).

samsung smart tag - works with samsung phones

Have a word with Tony Blair he can put a microchip in him.

What about a cat or dog tracker?

Second Life360, its very reliable.

Life 360 is much more reliable than Google maps. Still needs a child who has remembered to charge their phone though!

I pay for life360. Tracking is accurate to about 2m mostly.

Another vote for life 360. Mine used to have a smart watch that had a tracker before she had a phone

I use it to track DD when she is driving, initially when she had just passed her test to put my mind at rest but now we both find it helpful so have kept it. I have never needed more than the free version & find it very accurate.

I needed to be able to add more people than the free version allows unfortunately.

Dd goes to school in a different town and parking is nightmare so my parents have it so she cam see where they are parked.

But yeah the driving thing is quite useful. I would say though that I don't trust the driving reports. I had my best mates kids in my car last week. Her eldest is 12 and has life360, I had it as did dh (also in car). Mine said the journey was a safe drive. Only incident was getting onto her driveway...she has slabs but my car is too wide for them so as the wheel dropped off the slab as I straightened uo it recorded an incident. Her dd's phone registered it as a risky drive with 11 incidents and dh had is as a safe drive with 4 incidents I think.

Yes, Life360. You can use a Tile with it.