A kid’s tracking device is a smart and secure gadget that enables parents to monitor their children’s locations. Children tracking devices incorporate GPS technology that shows your child’s location in real-time. Children’s tracking devices are typically watches or small clips that can be clipped on a backpack or wrist with ease. They are convenient to use and give parents added confidence, especially when kids play outside, walk to school, or travel.
You can define safe zones, like home or school, and get notified if the child ventures beyond these zones. There are panic buttons on most such devices which the kids can use if they need any help. That gives an extra level of security and greater confidence for the parents and kids to go out into the world.
With smart technology, a child tracking device can also offer fun features like step tracking and reminders. It’s not just protection—it’s also being near. Choosing a child tracking device is the equivalent of giving your child autonomy with always being safe and secure every day.
History Children Tracking Devices
The history of the children’s tracking device dates back to the early 2000s, when parents began searching for ways to protect their children as they stepped out into the world. The devices initially began as simple GPS trackers that allowed parents to track the location of their child in real-time. The initial children’s tracking device was cumbersome and primarily designed for outdoor use. It was intended to give parents peace of mind if children played out or if they were somewhere in public.
As the technology advanced, so did the tracking device of the children. In the 2010s, they became smaller, more efficient, and wearable in the shape of wristbands, watches, or small clips that were easy to place on by the children. They also came with extra features such as geofencing, which notifies the parent’s phone if their child leaves a set area.
Child tracking devices now possess sophisticated features like two-way communication, fitness tracking, and panic alarms. Monitoring applications from cell phones are also included in most tracking devices. The technology has come about as a result of high demand for the protection of children and technology being used in day-to-day activities. Child tracking devices have hence become an essential device among most parents with the advantage of feeling safe and secure.
Benefits of kids tracking device
A kids tracking device has several benefits for parents and children, including safety, comfort, and serenity. Some of the most salient benefits of using a kids tracking device are mentioned below:
- Enhanced Safety: By using a kids tracking device, parents can keep their child’s location under constant surveillance, hence making them safer, especially in public or unfamiliar areas.
- Peace of Mind: Parents feel secure knowing they can find their child in an instant at any moment, and there is no worry about safety.
- Geofencing Alerts: Most kid-tracking devices include geofencing, and parents can set up safe areas. When their child steps outside this area, the device will send an alert to the parent’s phone, enabling instant action if required.
- Emergency Features: Certain tracking gadgets have emergency buttons, which allow children to notify their parents immediately in the event of danger or need assistance automatically.
- Encourages Independence: With a children’s tracking device, kids have the freedom to venture out in the world and know that they can be located and secured by their parents.
Overall, a children’s tracking device offers many benefits, from safety and peace of mind to independence and instant emergency interventions, making it an asset for modern parents.
Types of Children’s Tracking Devices
In terms of child safety, choosing the correct child tracking device matters. There are quite a number of child tracking device categories, all serving different needs and desires. The most common are those that are wearable as accessories, key chain devices, and mobile phone applications, each of which provides child safety in different ways.
GPS watches
The GPS watches are the most advanced of these popularly used kid tracking devices. These are simply ordinary wristwatches but with the added functionality of GPS tracking, and the parents get to see where the child is in real-time. Some of the watches also include features like two-way communication, which allows the parents to call or send a message to the child. These watches are made for children who are old enough to wear a watch but yet still need to be tracked.
Clip or keychain
A clip or keychain is another favorite among kids tracking devices. These tiny tracking devices can be clipped onto a child’s clothes or backpack. They are less visible than watches and are still capable of finding the child with GPS technology.
Smartphone apps
Finally, there are some parents who would prefer to utilize smartphone apps as tracking devices for kids. Apps function by tapping into the child’s phone GPS to locate them. This naturally has the drawback that the child needs a phone, but for older children it can be an effective method.
Latest Updates of children’s tracking device
The latest advancements in children’s tracking devices have enhanced a child’s security and communication to a great extent. At the beginning of 2024, Tack One launched the Tack GPS Plus, a small, GPS, Wi-Fi, IoT networked mobile, AI, and smart sensor, small-sized device. Perhaps its most differentiated feature is indoor elevation finder under which parents can locate their children on various levels of buildings and save search time while in the city.
The device has a 30-day battery life when fully charged and can be purchased starting at $2.95 per month on a two-year contract. The Verizon Family app was updated in October of 2024, which enhanced its family location tracking function.
Safe Walk SOS feature within the app enables sharing of real-time location with emergency contacts and an emergency SOS feature while in silent mode. Some additional features are tracking family members, phone tracking, restricting screen time, and seeing text and call activity. The app is $14.99 a month and works with other Verizon family-tracking devices, such as the Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure.
Google’s Find My Device network, which was launched in April 2024, allows lost or stolen Android devices to talk to other nearby Android devices to share location data without the need for an internet connection. Among the updates includes making it easy for parents to quickly locate Family Link-enabled devices using the Find My Device app directly. Samsung introduced a kids mode in January 2025 on its Galaxy Watch 7.
The mode provides children with the authority to call and send authorized contacts, GPS location tracking accessible to their parents. The watch is compatible with large carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Parents are able to manage the smartwatch using the Google Family Link app, putting in place limits and app download approvals. Some of its other features include a School Time mode and an SOS emergency feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are children’s tracking devices accurate?
Children’s tracking devices are usually accurate within 10-20 feet depending on signal and location.
Can I track my child without them knowing?
Yes, most tracking devices are designed to be monitored in secret without the child’s awareness.
Are children’s tracking devices waterproof?
Most children’s tracking devices are water-resistant or waterproof, so they can be worn for swimming or rain.
How long does the battery last on a children’s tracking device?
Battery life will usually be between 24 hours and a number of days, depending on usage.
Can a children’s tracking device be used abroad?
Certain devices are global, but it is reasonable to check for compatibility with networks in the country.
Takeaway points
Takeaway points concerning children’s tracking devices are that they provide security and reassurance for parents. A children tracking device is a modern piece of equipment that allows parents to be aware at any time where their child is.The technology has evolved through the years with GPS location tracking, geofencing, and SOS alerts. Parents can create safe zones with a children tracking device and receive alerts if the child wanders outside these areas, providing an extra sense of security.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the tracking devices for kids are also in different shapes, some of which are wearable devices such as watches and wristbands, designed to be user-friendly and to be convenient. They are waterproofed in the majority of them, thus perfectly suitable for the kids who enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming or playing on rainy days. Kids tracking devices also have two-way communication, hence parents and children can stay connected in case things go wrong.
Finally, as much as safety is the central purpose of a kids tracking device, kids tracking devices also instill independence. Children are free to play outside and explore, knowing their parents can find them if necessary. The technologies behind children’s tracking devices will likewise evolve further over time, and this will mean even more confidence for parents.
