Timid or Assertive Kid? Can a GPS Tracker Help (OR NOT)?

Understanding correct GPS tracking use on children

You have seen those confident kids that do not seem to have any issues interacting with their peers. Courageous little explorers that are full of energy and can not be stopped. 

You have also seen the more sensitive type, the type preferring to stand beside the wall as opposed to the center of the room, the one that is having a more difficult time departing from parents. Which one is yours? Of course, this is an overly simplified representation of characters which are usually much more complex. However, for our needs, it perfectly outlines how to utilize GPS trackers without harming the relationships with your kids.

We need to be careful. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 7% of children (from 3 to 17 years) are diagnosed with a type of anxiety disorder. Indeed, a child may not be able to express their feelings like an adult, but it does not mean that they don’t experience worry and fear. Let's not make unnecessary mistakes raising our kids by not acknowledging these complexities. 

Source: Center for Disease Control (CDC)

‍Assertive kids 

Having an assertive warrior is a great thing. Of course, you might occasionally lose your mind, as sometimes exploring can get reckless. Exploring is not a bad thing, as we learn through better or worse experiences. In this case, a GPS tracker can help you to be less worried and overprotective, while a child can get a bit more freedom to explore. With the help of a GPS tracker you can at least know where they are and if they got distracted and stopped by their friend, a park, or decided to do something else. Let them do it, and not freak out if the kid is a bit late. 

Let the parents be less anxious and less overprotective, and let the kid explore.

It's a win-win situation if properly communicated and if the kid is not already well into its secondary socialization. That is the process of learning appropriate behavior as a member of a smaller group within the larger society.

Timid kids 

They are more careful and usually obey their parents which is comfortable for mum and dad. However, they are often too stressed to try new things and simply prefer the security and proximity to their parents.

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Give your timid child confidence and assurance that you are always close to them and ready to protect them.

In their case, the use of a GPS tracker can help them feel more secure, making them confident to explore and in general be less anxious. We have had many parents exposing this fact, as their kids like to carry a tracker with them and consider them as a parent protection extension.

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Lack of trust

It's not a secret, no matter the child's character, breaking the trust is the single biggest issue of using GPS tracking and reckless use of such devices can have even permanent consequences. This effect might be especially problematic if assertive children do not feel trusted and are limited to explore. Timid children are easier in this regard, as they might consider it as having mom and dad closer at all times.

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So before deciding about the use of such technology, have an honest talk with your kid, let them know about your worries, and agree about the scope of tracking. Let the assertive kids know what are the limits and are the rules. Do the same things with timid kids, as otherwise, they might perceive you do not trust them, and worse of all, that they are not good little kids and are disappointing you. Can you imagine how difficult it might be for them to process such behavior of their parents? Do not allow this to happen!

All these issues are only emphasized once the child turns 11 or 12, now already fully emerged into secondary socialization. At this point, GPS tracking should be used ONLY in case of specific situations such as very dangerous environments or the possibility of self-harm, etc.

Do not be reckless when protecting your precious.

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Read more about the topic:

How to monitor your kid with a GPS tracker the right way?

What do people say about parents tracking their children?

Expert psychologist's opinion on child tracking

How to choose the best kids tracker for you

Tracking your kids? Are only bad parents doing it?

3 main issues of monitoring and tracking people

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