manchu Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 GPS tracking of your kids...what's your opinion? A workmate recently told me that he keeps track of his 12 yr old son by using 'find my iphone'. If he deviates from his normal route home or if the kid turns off tracking he calls to check what's going on. In my opinion this is a recipe for trouble and I don't agree with the practice. I think people do it because the technology makes it easy, without putting any thought into whether they should. However, I don't have any kids yet, but I'd like to think my opinion wont change when I do (due in 2 weeks by the way).
gz76 Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 I think it's too much. My partner and her sister keep track of each other like this. I won't install it on my phone. Don't have kids, but if I did I would like to think I could trust them to be kids safely without the need to check on them every 5 minutes. I would probably embrace the technology as a failsafe, but wouldn't rely on it to know where the kids actually are on a day to day basis.
bruce108 Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 The basics remain so long as they are living with you and at school: where are they going? who with? what are their plans? when are they expected home? Check out what it would be like if your kid went missing, the police were at the door and you had to answer Don't Know to any of these questions. But the relationship rests on trust. A kid who feels mistrusted or under surveillance will kick up - as you would. Strict and harsh parenting is as bad as the lax kind.
Gee Emm Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) GPS tracking of your kids...what's your opinion? A workmate recently told me that he keeps track of his 12 yr old son by using 'find my iphone'. If he deviates from his normal route home or if the kid turns off tracking he calls to check what's going on. In my opinion this is a recipe for trouble and I don't agree with the practice. I think people do it because the technology makes it easy, without putting any thought into whether they should. However, I don't have any kids yet, but I'd like to think my opinion wont change when I do (due in 2 weeks by the way). I don't think you should judge if you don't have kids. Then again, I don't think you should judge even if you do have kids. I didn't do it, but I understand (without judgement) why some people do it. There are times when I am concerned where my 20 year old is/might be, let alone if he/she was 12. Raising children in this day and age is fraught with issues my parents could not even perceive let alone contend with. ...strict and harsh parenting is as bad as the lax kind. You imply that the practice discussed above is "strict and harsh parenting". Isn't this a bit presumptious? Edited June 3, 2013 by mr-happy-pants
shaky Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) Is the world so bad that you have to track your kids 24/? Yes, it's good to know where they are but I like to think good upbringing, along with common sense, should help in that regard, both with them telling you where they will be and also being honest about it. I do understand there are horrible unscrupulous people out there who go after kids as easy targets for whatever reason but I also understand this is a minority. I am trying to give my kids all the right tools in life to make sure their chances of being on that minority are reduced as much as possible. Edited June 3, 2013 by shaky
Krispy Audio Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 I wouldn't monitor my kids, but it's good technology to have if the unthinkable were to happen. I'd certainly ask (when they're older) if they'd mind me having access for such a situation, but would seek their permission rather than enforce it.
manchu Posted June 3, 2013 Author Posted June 3, 2013 I don't think you should judge if you don't have kids. I didn't do it, but I understand (without judgement) why some people do it. I think it's possible to have an opinion on something without judging someone who has a different opinion. I understand why this particular guy keeps track of his kid and respect his reasons. I think most parents would justify it by citing a Daniel Morcombe type tradgedy, so I guess it comes down to how much you worry about the 0.0001% scenarios.
Addicted to music Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 Funny, The organization I work for has had every person on the road GPS tracked, accept Victoria where it is legislation that they must get written consent! I'm now hearing on the corporate grape vine that the BS spill that management used to sell there reason for implementation was not to penalized a employee has been violated! I'm sure in the very near future this will change where GPS tracking on employees will be common practice to trace the location at will. I'm sure the next step is to place a camera to ensure you are on the job!
davidsss Posted June 3, 2013 Posted June 3, 2013 Yes we all worry about our kids and some level of surveilance is necessary as they grow up. The decision all parents have to make is how much freedom at any given age their kids get. This is essentially a decision about which mistakes kids need to make for themselves and are safe enough for them to do so, and which mistakes they should be stopped from making. There is no right answer. My daughter probably had more freedom at 16 than my niece does at 19. I firmly believe that kids need to be given more freedoms as they grow so they can enter adulthood with some sense of responsibility and some world wiseness about them. It's not easy letting go but I also think the world is no more dangerous than when we were kids and I had a lot freedom as a kid. I wouldn't go so far as to use GPS on a phone though. However, up to a certain age I see nothing wrong in a little bit of snooping if there is some reason for suspicion. I reckon at 14 my daughter was at her most vulnerable, there were more freedoms but not yet the experience to cope. But how to get that experience? Ultimately our daughter did 'fess up to most of what she did but I hope we created an environment where she knew we weren't going to get mad at her when she made mistakes. Parenting is a very inexact science. DS
gainphile Posted June 4, 2013 Posted June 4, 2013 I don't track my kids. But I can 'activate' in the case the need arise. Remember they had not found Bung. There are a LOT of lunatics out there.
Guest glakey Posted June 5, 2013 Posted June 5, 2013 I have one daughter who I spend a lot of time away from because of work. I have many friends who are in law enforcement / high tech crime investigation, an afternoon with them as they explain the low life's out there and what they do and are capable of doing leaves me in no doubt as to the measures I need to take or may need to take to contribute to her safety. GPS tracking, mobile phones and knowing what your kids are up to - I don't see the issue. Perhaps if a few more parents knew what their kids were doing we would not see some of the juvenile crime we see today. George
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