The market for wearable GPS trackers for children is set to grow exponentially throughout the period of 2021 to 2027, with the general personal GPS tracking industry projected to more than triple in growth by 2028 (Allied Market Research, 2021). Parents are choosing to give tracking devices to their children in order to feel more secure about their child’s safety and whereabouts. Trackers not only give parents peace of mind, but they also help children feel safer and more at ease. GPS trackers allow parents to have real-time access to their child’s location at all times. Most modern GPS trackers now come with mobile phone software, allowing quick and easy tracking information access. There are many benefits to giving your children GPS trackers; below, we have outlined the most important benefits.
Helping children feel safer
In today's world, your child may want to carry a GPS tracker for their peace of mind. GPS trackers now come with an SOS button, which, when pressed, sends an alert to a designated number. This could be useful in everyday situations, like communicating to a caregiver that the child is ready to be picked up from school, or it could be used for a child to indicate they do not feel safe. This ability to communicate makes GPS trackers a great option for your child’s safety without the need for mobile phones.
Younger children can easily lose expensive or damaged smartphones. Mobile phones also pose other security threats that come with social media and data. A GPS tracker is a much easier and more efficient way for a child and parent to have a base level of communication throughout the day. More so, pressing an SOS button on a tracker is much more discreet than sending a message on a mobile phone; thus, it can be more effective for children to use in bad situations.
Geofencing and added security
Geofencing is an added tracking capability that comes with modern GPS trackers. You can create geofences on mobile apps by selecting different areas to monitor. If the child enters or leaves this area, the parent will receive a notification from the app to their phone. This could be useful in monitoring if your child is still in school or if they have left school unexpectedly. It also can help parents know when to collect their child after an after-school activity. This not only provides peace of mind for the parent but also for the child.
Tracking for children with learning difficulties
Random spells of wandering can be very common for children with learning difficulties, such as autism. A study conducted in 2018 found children within the age range of 4 to 7, who had autism, to be vulnerable to wandering behaviour (Anderson, 2018). Children with learning difficulties may experience desires to run away from a safe space suddenly. They may also entertain curiosity and unknowingly leave a safe space. Whilst a GPS tracker won't stop your child from wandering, it can quickly locate a lost child.