When my son went to preschool at age four, I taught him to use the cell phone I threw in his backpack for the kids. It had no apps and four numbers: Mom, Dad, Grandpa and 911. This was before it was in the headlines at school.
Many parents are shocked to find out what their child is doing on their phone, tablet or computer. Don’t be that parent. Be active. Just like you have the sex talk with your kids, have the digital life talk. Tap or click to set boundaries for parents and kids for the free tech contract.
A new report shows there were 193 shooting incidents on school grounds during the 2021-2022 school year. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to drop your child off school right now and wonder if they are safe.
That’s why I want to help any parent or guardian of school-aged children use the right technology. For your convenience, I’ve linked to some great products you can check out and order on Amazon. I receive a small commission from qualified purchases, but I assure you, my recommendations are always unbiased.
Here’s what I do
Many schools do not allow children to have cell phones in the classroom until they reach a certain age. Smart watches can be a better security tool than cell phones. This is the reason.
In an emergency, kids can tap a few buttons on the watch. This movement is more invisible than making a phone call, especially when the watch is hidden under the long sleeve.
I love the T-Mobile SyncUP KIDS Watch for little kids. It makes calls and texts to approved contacts, but also has real-time location tracking, virtual fences, and a button to press to call for help or 911.
The Apple Watch is great for older kids who use iPhones. Remember, this size is for adult wrists, so it’s not suitable for young children. The Apple Watch SE is a good deal compared to more expensive newer models.
Take the time to teach your child how to use any smartwatch. To use the Apple Emergency SOS feature, press and hold it. Side button Until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Dragging the slide Call emergency services and send your child’s current location to any emergency contacts. Here are the steps to set up emergency contacts.
For older kids and teens, the Android phone, Samsung Galaxy Watch includes an SOS feature that sends messages to selected emergency contacts and location information. You can adjust the settings to make this accessible by pressing the Home key three times. Here’s how.
Skip Fitbits because they don’t have an emergency or SOS feature.
Related: How to set up parental controls on all your kids’ devices: Windows, Apple, Android
Put a tracker on them or in their bag
A tracking device is another way to keep track of where your child is throughout the day. In an emergency, it can help you find them too.
If you have an iPhone, use AirTag. I have them everywhere: on my luggage, my dog’s collar, my car, my purse, you name it. Here are more clever uses for inexpensive trackers.
You can put one in your child’s bag, but it may not always be on them. Do what you feel is best for your child. I love these accessories that always fit perfectly on their body.
For Android users, you can use Tile tracker or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+.
Apps for your child’s phone
If your child has a phone and is allowed to bring it to school, there are ways to reach you quickly and quietly.
Life360 offers a way to monitor surroundings and ask for help without saying a word. The free version includes an SOS help alert. If your child opens the app and taps the SOS button, an alert with their location will be sent to your pre-set emergency contacts.
Paid options start at $14.99 per month and add many more features.
Noon Light is another strong option. Your child can press a button to silently call for help. There is one more step, so this is better to use with older children and teenagers.
At noon, open the app and press and hold the “Hold until safe” button. If there is no emergency, release the key and enter the four-digit PIN to delete. Releasing the key without entering a PIN notifies the police of an emergency.
The safety net feature is also great. You can request check-in with your child; If they don’t respond, the app will help you track them down. NoteThis only works with iPhones. Security Key works with iPhone and Android.
Know your options: 9 safety apps you need on hand in an emergency
Practice at home
It hurts to say this, but you should have safety drills at home so your kids know what to do if they need to. Teach them how to use their smart watch or phone app to contact you in an emergency.
Discuss with your child when and where it’s appropriate to take out their phone — and what constitutes an emergency. This is especially important for young children.
Keep up with your technology
My favorite podcast is called “Kim Commando Today”. It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips and callers with tech questions like you from across the country. Find your podcasts wherever you find them. For your convenience, click the link below for the latest episode.
Do you use navigation keys while driving? Hang up. You may have to deal with ads cluttering the screen. Ford also wants to make night driving easier with modern headlights. Also, is someone watching you with a hidden tracker? Here are some signs to watch out for.
Check out my podcast “Kim Commando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to your podcast here or anywhere. Search for my last name “Commando”.
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