Best GPS Tracking Devices for Kids

It was more than 15 years ago that Duracell aired their BrickHouse Security Child Locator national ad campaign for the first time. The commercial for it went viral and the product was sold out within 48 hours.

We all remember that commercial – it was an instant classic. 

A mother is at the park with her son when he suddenly runs off without her knowing. After freaking out for a few moments, she pulls out a Child Locator device (powered by Duracell batteries) and finds her son. 

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Today, child locator devices (or, as we like to call them, GPS tracking devices for kids) are more popular, reliable, and technologically advanced than ever – and parents are using them more frequently than ever.

How to Choose Between Tracking Devices

If there’s one thing you need to know about GPS tracking devices today, it’s that no two devices are created equal. With that said, most tracking devices can be grouped into one of two different categories. 

A smartwatch or a tracking tag. 

Smartwatches are worn on the wrist (like any other watch) and can cost anywhere from $100 to $250+, while GPS tracking tags are placed in a child’s coat, backpack, or shoes, and usually cost under $100.

Before we talk about some of the best GPS tracking devices available today, let’s first take a look at five of the most important features to consider when choosing the one that meets your needs and desires. 

5. Battery Life

The last thing you want is to spend all this money on a GPS tracking device just to have it run out of battery while your child is at school or at a friend’s house. That would ruin the purpose, wouldn’t it? 

That’s why battery life is so important when shopping for a tracking device. 

You have two primary options here – a rechargeable battery or a replaceable battery. 

Rechargeable batteries are best reserved for everyday use (so long as you remember to charge it when not being used), while replaceable batteries are handy when you don’t have easy access to a charger.

4. Panic Button

If something were to happen to you right now, how long do you think it would take to open your phone, search through your contact list, and call for help – whether that be 911, a friend, or a family member. 

It might only take 30 seconds or so, but sometimes that’s not fast enough. 

Well, that’s what the panic button is for on your child’s GPS tracking device. 

The panic button, or SOS button, is a crucial safety feature on most GPS tracking devices today. When pressed, the device sends an alert to a list of emergency contacts via SMS, email, notification, or a call.

3. Two-Way Communication

Sending a pre-determined distress signal via a panic button is useful for emergency situations, but some tracking devices take it a step further and allow the child to directly communicate with their parents. 

This is called two-way communication, and it supports voice calls and text messaging. 

Not only can the parent easily contact the child, but the child can easily contact the parent. 

In other words, it gives the child the independence to go about their business while parents still have the ability to communicate with them, if needed. It’s the best of both worlds, and everyone benefits from it.

2. Alerts & Geofencing

Perhaps one of the coolest and most useful features of a GPS tracking device is a little something called geofencing – which allows users to create virtual boundaries around specific, targeted geographic areas. 

When the device enters or exits these predefined zones, the parents are alerted. 

This, of course, gives parents a bounty of new insight into their child’s behavior. 

Let’s say you want to make sure your child isn’t leaving school when they should be in class. You can set up a geofence around the school and you’ll receive a notification if your child ever leaves the premises.

1. Size & Design

And last but not least, you should always consider the size and design of the GPS tracking device – not just because you want it to look cool, but you also want it to be both functional and easy to carry around. 

For example, a smaller, lightweight device is more comfortable for children to wear.

Smaller devices are also less noticeable, which can be important for discreet monitoring. 

With that said, you also want to find one that your child likes – so don’t be afraid to ask for their input. After all, they’re the ones who are going to be wearing the watch or holding the tracking tag all day.

Best GPS Tracking Devices for Children

Alright, now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a GPS tracking device for children, we can start to narrow your options down and zero in on the type (and brand) that suits your family the best. 

It’s not an easy decision, but one many parents are faced with daily. 

In fact, it’s a decision one of our loyal readers asked about recently. 

“Does anyone have a good reliable and accurate tracker they can recommend? I’m looking for something to put in my daughter’s backpack or shoe or something!” they asked in our online community forum. 

Don’t worry – we’re going to break down 10 of our favorite trackers available today.

10. Tile by LIfe360

The Tile product line is brought to you by Life360 – the leading connection and safety app used by 1 in 9 families. There are four different types of Tile trackers and they’re both compatible with the Life360 app.

• Tile Mate is a square-shaped tracker about the same size as an AirPods case and it can be attached to your child’s keys, bags, or belt loop.
• Tile Slim is the thinnest tracker in the product line. It’s shaped like a credit card and can easily slide into a wallet or luggage tag. 
• Tile Sticker is their smallest tracker. It’s shaped like a button and can be attached to just about any hard surface.
• Tile Pro is similar to the Tile Mate, but is their most powerful tracker, with the longest range and replaceable battery. 

You can buy them separately or in a package. The Mate is around $25, the Slim is around $35, the Sticker is about $30, and the Pro is $35 – but you can get one of each in a starter pack for $80.

9. SecuLife

SecuLife has three different GPS tracking devices designed specifically for young kids – the Kids S4 tracker (basic model), Kids S7 tracker (SOS button), and Kids S11 tracker (smaller, more discreet). 

You won’t be spending more than $40 and their devices are compatible with their SecuLife mobile app. They feature everything from geofencing to panic buttons, two-way communication, and notifications.

8. Tracki

Tracki is one of the best-selling GPS tracking devices on Amazon and normally runs close to $60, but is frequently on sale for about a third of the price – making it one of the more affordable options on this list. 

Geofencing allows you to monitor when your child leaves or enters an area they shouldn’t be leaving or entering. It also has a panic button and a speed alert feature that tells you when your child is speeding.

7. Tack GPS

Tack GPS uses a futureproof Hybrid Tracking Technology to keep your loved ones and valuables safe and sound. The battery can last up to 30 days thanks to its robust 750 mAh rechargeable battery. 

One of the coolest features of Tack GPS is its Indoor Elevation Finder, which not only helps you locate where they are on a map, but also their elevation – which comes in handy in buildings with a lot of floors.

6. Verizon Gizmo Watch 3

The Gizmo Watch 3 is a smartwatch made by Verizon and designed specifically for kids. It can’t access the internet and only allows phone calls to parent-approved contacts to reduce any and all temptation. 

Parents can track their child’s location inside the GizmoHub mobile app and there’s also an SOS button for emergencies and a touchscreen keyboard for kids to type what they want to say in their messages.

5. Gabb Watch 3

The Gabb Watch 3 is very similar to the Gizmo Watch 3, but it’s a part of Gabb Wireless’s impressive range of kid-friendly technology products aimed at providing secure and reliable devices for young users.

It features customizable safe zones, avoids unsafe apps, parent-managed contacts, and a panic button. While the watch costs around $150, parents can get a free one if they sign up for a Gabb cellular plan. 

4. Garmin Bounce

The Garmin Bounce is a kids-specific smartwatch that, with an active subscription and LTE connectivity, allows you to communicate with your child via two-way text and voice messaging via the Garmin Jr. app.

In addition to its GPS tracking capabilities, it also tracks steps, sleep, activity and more. If you’re unsure if your child is ready for a smartphone, then the Garmin Bounce acts as the perfect stepping stone to it. 

3. Apple Air Tag

The Apple AirTag is a small, coin-shaped tracking device developed by Apple Inc. It is designed to help users locate anything from keys, wallets, bags, children, and pets using Apple’s Find My network.

It uses Apple’s U1 chip with Ultra-Wideband technology for precision finding, but the only major downfall to this GPS tracking device is that you need an iPhone 11 (or newer) to set it up – sorry Android users. 

2. Jiobit Smart Tag

The Jiobit Smart Tag is a small, lightweight device that uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular technology to provide accurate and reliable location tracking. It can be attached to anything. 

A monthly subscription is required, but it gives you unlimited data, geofencing capabilities, access to your child’s location history, an SOS mode with 911 emergency dispatch, and a battery life of up to 30 days.  

1. AngelSense

AngelSense is one of the most popular GPS tracking devices. It provides real-time location tracking and two-way communication, giving parents peace of mind with continuous monitoring and immediate alerts.

There are two different options available – a tag tracker and a smartwatch. The tag is recommended for all ages with sensory sensitivities, while the watch is recommended for teenagers and young adults. 

Which GPS Tracking Devices Are You Interested In? 

The peace of mind that comes with knowing your child’s location at all times is invaluable and priceless to any parent, especially in a society where unexpected events can occur – often with little-to-no warning. 

But that’s why we have GPS tracking devices for kids. 

These innovative devices provide real-time location tracking and allow for two-way communication with your child – whether you need to remind them to close the door on their way out or ask where they are. 

It’s everything a parent needs to keep their children at bay. 

By leveraging this technology, parents can foster a safe environment for their children to explore and grow, while maintaining the reassurance that help is just the press of a button away – at all times. 

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If you’re looking for more tips and tricks on how to protect your children in today’s fast-paced world, feel free to leverage our Answers by Mamas Uncut online forum – where mothers come together to help one another. Just ask your question and our talented community of mama experts will respond in no time!