To ask for recommendations for a smart watch with a tracker for DS9?

[Abneyandteal19]

So not strictly AIBU but....
DS is about to start Year 5 when they can walk home from school alone. I will be collecting his younger brothers so will be at school but due to logistics/different gates etc a lot of the year 5s with siblings have permission to leave school alone and meet their parents in the park next door / designated spot once younger siblings have been collected.

I am ok with this but am struggling to work out what we would do if he isn't where he is supposed to be! Or if something goes wrong etc I absolutely don't want him to have a phone at all. So I guess I'm asking if anyone uses a smart watch with GPS but that can't make calls/texts or can only call one designated number I.e. mine! There are some on Amazon but finding it hard to work out which are really good etc. I also don't want him playing games on it or whatever in class as I don't want to cause problems for his teachers. He's allowed a watch at school but of course not one that plays games!

I might be overthinking but this is my first experience as he's my eldest. He's definitely not mature enough for a phone and there are a thousand other reasons not to go down that road but I do want him to have a bit of independence.

Any tips/thoughts or recommendations??
Thanks!

My DD is a 'walker' technically she could walk home as far as the school are concerned. However I have told her to meet me in a specific place (outside her brothers class) and not leave the school yard. If for any reason I am not there she knows not to leave to school grounds but to either go back to a teacher or the school office and explain they need to call me.

This was tested last yr when her after school club was cancelled. I arrived at school as normal to pick up and she was stood at the gate crying (her class had been let out early). I asked what was wrong and she was worried I didn't know about the cancelled class and she would miss me. So I asked her what she would have done if she'd missed me and she said go to a teacher or reception. She said she knew she wasn't to leave the school yard.

She was just a bit overwhelmed but she said she would have done it.

I did know about the cancellation but wouldn't put it past the school to not notify parents.

Would this work for your child?

Pop an airtag on their keys or bag.

To be honest, within such a small area I'm not sure the GPS would be that reliable to help you track him down. If you're happy he's sensible enough to follow instructions, then I'd recommend to just have a plan and a backup plan. Talk to him about what he should do if you're not where you've agreed to be by x time, or tell him what you will do if he's not there by x time etc (basically, most likely it'll be go back to reception at school). For example, my son was getting a taxi home from school due to distance and I knew on occasion I might have to go out and be a bit late getting back for his dropoff. So before he had a phone (delayed as long as I could) we had a plan that he would wait in the porch and if I wasn't there 15 minutes after he arrived, he could go to the next door neighbour, and if they weren't in the other side, or the one over the road, etc.

Many schools ban smartwatch, so check it allowed first!