More and more worried parents monitor their children via GPS. The corresponding stations are in children’s watches or apps which are controversial because the lasting control of many parents harms the trust. GPS devices have slowly become a large part of the daily lives of some people, and that is because when used properly, they guide and offer help in a lot of different ways. To learn more about the history of GPS and how it works, visit- Geosettr.
Many parents use the technology of GPS apps or watches to locate their loved ones to alleviate their fear of the child’s disappearance – the greatest fear of all parents ever. So mom and dad are at least virtually always with them. The products all have one thing in common: They advertise with positive terms such as safety, carefree and caring – and ultimately make a good deal of fear. Here are some features of popular products: Duration monitoring, alarm function and geo-fencing.
In the beginning, the GPS tracker is used for tracking dogs, then rose later with green and pink watches in the child safety business. GPS watches contain a transmitter, which can be localized via the corresponding app. In addition to an alarm function that informs all group members when triggered, the app offers three tracking models: a permanent tracking, one only when entering and leaving an area or when a person wants to communicate their location. Besides, most of them have an alarm button and a “Geo-Fencing” function, which allows parents to mark a specific movement field. If the child enters or leaves the area, the parents receive a message on their smartphone.
GPS tracking damages self-confidence
Instead of relying on the personal GPS tracker, some pedagogues advocate collusion between parents and children, who make sense of the way sons and daughters are on their way and reliably for both sides – including contingency plans, in case something unforeseen happens. Fathers and mothers showed that they trust and trust their children. After all, trust and growing self-employment are important components of child development. Over-anxious parents hinder children by using technology only in their autonomy. A child who is constantly monitored, cannot build self-esteem and self-confidence. Most Fathers and mothers instinctively develop their kind of alertness, but they are lost if they rely only on child control via GPS.
Instead of GPS: make clear agreements
The experts and the vast majority of parents agree on one point: no child may be monitored by GPS without his permission, otherwise, the trust in his parents will be permanently disturbed. Also, the parental benefits for the children must be understandable. Tracking the dangerous or difficult way to school may still be okay for daughters and sons. But not that their parents use the same app to check their Facebook friendships, browse Instagram pictures, or even remotely lock the phone until the kid finally calls back.
Against all-encompassing and constant surveillance Defend against child and data protection. “It can be useful in certain or dangerous situations – or if children have repeatedly abused their parental trust. But parents and children should then set the necessary timeframe for GPS tracking together”, says Rainer Becker, CEO of Deutsche Kinderhilfe, and he not only advises all parents to make better personal and reliable arrangements with their children instead of using GPS. Here are a few examples:
1. Are your children going home from school while you’re still working or traveling? Then they should call you briefly, by SMS or via the Whatsapp group, as soon as they arrive at home.
2. If the children are traveling alone or with friends in their spare time, they agree with them a time when they must be at home. If they are delayed for more than ten or fifteen minutes, they must call you. Then you can clarify everything else in the conversation.
3. If your child visits a friend by himself to play in the neighborhood, but does not stay there, but moves on to another child, let them know so you know where it is.
For your children to take collusion and rules seriously, popular excuses such as “I have not found my cell phone and could not reach you” should not apply, whether at school, neighbors or on the move – everywhere there are phones that have one child If we make our children fit this way, not only can they cope well with their everyday lives, but they can also cope with unforeseen situations and small emergencies, showing our confidence in their abilities and strengthening them self-confidence.
