Imagine your kid has just left for school and you’re constantly checking the clock and wondering whether they have reached safely. We understand your concerns, especially when kids are traveling alone for the first time. Don’t worry; location tracking can give parents peace of mind about safety.
Don’t worry; in this guide, we’ll give step-by-step guidelines on using location tracking on different devices. We’ll also share tips on privacy considerations and alternative ways beyond location tracking. Keep reading!
Is it a good idea to track a child’s location on the way to school?
Tracking location on the way to school can be a good idea for families of younger kids who walk alone or use public transit. It helps parents confirm that a child has safely arrived at the destination without the need to make constant calls. It’s worth noting that location tracking doesn’t automatically make a school journey safe. It actually works best as a safety support tool.
NHTSA, in its School Bus Safety Report, collects data from 2013–2022 and finds that 1,000+ people died in school-transportation-related crashes. You know, in such incidents, almost 198 were 18-or-younger kids, and among those kids, 38% were pedestrians.
You know in January 2026, David Shepardson in Reuters published a report that NHTSA opened an investigation of a child road incident. Where a self-driving Waymo struck a kid near an elementary school during morning drop-off. Though the kid got minor injuries, the incident occurred when the child entered the street from behind a parked SUV.
Seeing an increased road incident rate, doesn’t mean you track every step of your kids. You should balance safety with privacy and your kids’ growing independence. This is because an older kid who already follows agreed routes doesn’t need constant tracking at all. If you even use tracking, you should explain to kids why, and also agree on when it will be active for trust.
Privacy and trust boundaries parents should explain upfront
Below is an overview of some privacy and trust boundaries that you should explain to your kids before using location tracking.
Tell your child before turning on location sharing
Before moving to activate location sharing, you should clearly explain to your kids what this feature is and why it’s necessary. Your upfront conversation makes kids feel like you’re doing so for their safety, not any intention of secrecy.
Set simple family rules around location tracking
Next, you should sit with kids and make a few rules around location tracking that kids also agree on. For instance, you should decide when you’ll turn on location sharing, who should have access, and when it can be turned off. Families should also agree that they would review the set rules as kids grow and become independent.
Adjust the conversation by age
You should also understand that if you’re talking to younger kids, then explain to them about location tracking in simple wording. For instance, you can tell them that with location tracking, a trusted adult knows where you are for reassurance. On the other hand, older teenagers can indeed take part in decisions about privacy, consent & independence.
Which option fits your family? Apple, Google, or a family app
There are many built-in location tracking tools available on all modern smartphones; however, the choice of the right parental tool depends on many factors. Like the type of devices your family has, how much control your family needs, and many more like these. Below is an overview of Apple, Google, or a Family app to understand which best suits your needs.
Apple options for iPhone families
If your child uses an iPhone or iPad, then activating Apple’s built-in Apple Find My may be enough for most families. This is because parents can use it to view their kids’ shared location and check whether they have reached an agreed destination like school or home.
Google options for Android or mixed-device families
Now, if you have Android devices, then you can try the built-in Google Family Link app. Owing to this, parents can view their kids’ live location and even get alerts of arrival or departure for specific places.
When a family app may make more sense
On the other hand, if your family needs a centralized approach to manage different devices at a time or more advanced controls, then leveraging a third-party family app is a wise move. When it comes to a third-party family app, you can try installing FlashGet Kids owing to its cross-platform compatibility and advanced location tracking tools, including geo-fencing.
However, such tools only work best if you maintain transparency, making them feel like a part of a safety net instead of secret surveillance.
How to choose based on your real needs
Below is the quick decision checklist that you should first answer to choose the parental tool based on your real needs!
- What type of devices does your family use, whether only Android/iOS, or a mix?
- Do you want some basic or more advanced controls?
- How important is privacy & independence for your kids?
- Though you don’t need to be tech-savvy, are you comfortable with technology?
- Do you want free tools, or would you also go for the paid options to enjoy advanced features?
| Family situation | Best starting option |
| Mostly iPhones/iPads | Apple Find My |
| Mostly Android devices | Google Family Link |
| Mix of iPhone and Android devices | Family app(e.g FlashGet Kids) |
| Need basic controls | Built-in tools |
| Need advanced controls | Third-party tools |
| Prefer stronger privacy with minimal monitoring | Built-in tools + Open conversations |
| Want easier management for several children | Family app(e.g FlashGet Kids) |
| Limited budget | Built-in tools |
How to set up location tracking step by step
Now let’s dive deeper and have a close look at how you can set up location tracking on Apple Find My, Google Family Link or a third-party family safety app.
Step-by-step for Apple Find My
Turning on location services from settings
- Step 1: First of all, you’ll go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad > Privacy & Security.
- Step 2: Under the Privacy & Security tab, look for the Location Services option and turn it on.
- Step 3: Now just scroll down, tap Find My, and choose While Using the App or Always.
Share your location
- Step 4: After this, take your kid’s device and open the Find My app on their device.
- Step 5: At the bottom right corner of the screen, you’ll see an option labeled Me; just go for it. From here, turn on the Share My Location option.
Track your devices
- Step 6: Again, open the Find My app and now tap the Devices tab at the bottom.
- Step 7: Now tap your iPhone, iPad, or Mac from the list and turn on Find My [Device] and enable the Find My network to find it even when offline.
Step-by-step for Google Family Link
- Step 1: First, you’ll need to set up your kid’s supervised Google Account via Google Family Link.
- Step 2: Once you’ve created the account, make sure you’ve enabled location permissions on your child’s compatible Android device.
- Step 3: Now simply open Family Link from the parent’s device and choose your child’s profile > open the Location section.
- Step 4: Finally, follow the prompts to turn on location sharing. Here, make sure that the location appears correctly.
Step-by-step for a family safety app
Choose a reputable third-party family safety app like FlashGet Kids; below is a detailed guideline on how to use it for location tracking!
Download and Install the Parent App
- Step 1: Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your phone and install FlashGet Kids Parental Control.
- Step 2: Now create your parent account using your email address and log in to the app.
- Step 3: Choose Add/Bind a Device and select your kids’ phone operating system (Android or iOS). Also, you’ll keep the unique binding code or QR code displayed on your screen.
Install the child version on your kid’s phone
- Step 4: Now take your child’s phone and download the companion app.
- Step 5: Open the installed app and enter the binding code or scan the QR code shown on the parent phone to link both devices. That’s all!
Enabling tracking & geofencing
- Step 6: Finally, you’ll go back to your parent device dashboard. Here, tap on the Location Tracker and also configure the geofence.
Build a smarter school commute safety plan beyond tracking
It’s worth noting that location tracking doesn’t always prove helpful because it requires turning on the feature and the mobile has enough battery. However, what if the mobile gets switched off or loses signal? Definitely, parents won’t be able to see live location. That’s why below are some alternative ways parents can build a smart commute safety plan instead of sole reliance on technology.
Teach route safety skills first:
Before you allow your kids to travel independently, it would be best to walk the route together with them. While walking, you can help them identify safe crossings, busy roads, landmarks, etc. You should teach your kids to always stay on the agreed route and avoid taking shortcuts. Along with this, you should guide them to never get lost or forget the route; instead of panicking, remain in a safe place and contact you or an adult for help.
Use geofencing and alerts wisely:
On the other hand, if there are younger kids who are really unfamiliar with routes, then parents can use geofencing alerts. This keeps parents informed whenever kids leave or enter the specific area.
Have a backup if the phone fails:
On the other hand, if your kid’s phone is left at home or runs out of battery, then make sure your kids know where to go to get help. For instance, they should be familiar with one trusted contact whom they inform about the situation by borrowing a phone and getting help.
Age-specific advice for younger kids, tweens, and teens
As already mentioned, you should change the location tracking approach as your kids grow. To help you in this regard, below is age-specific advice to make sure kids have safe school commutes!
Younger kids ages 6–9
Younger kids usually need close supervision while they are traveling to school. Therefore, the best approach is to walk the route with them and guide them about safe crossings. You should also use location tracking when you find it appropriate. Remember! You should always keep the rules as simple as possible and make kids understand how tracking proves helpful in making them safe.
Kids around age 10–12
Children of this age group are generally ready for more independence depending on the route they walk and also on their maturity. Parents should have a family agreement with kids about routes to follow and check-in times. You can also discuss with them about location sharing, explaining why it’s useful. This not only give parents peace of mind but also gives kids a sense of responsibility.
Teens ages 13+
For teenagers, you should make them feel you trust them by giving them independence and involving them in decisions. However, don’t give them free rein; instead, agree with them about sharing location for specific situations.
Faqs
Indeed, yes, it’s generally legal to track your minor’s location if they are under 18.
If your kid resists location tracking, then don’t make the mistake of secretly turning it off. Instead, you should ask kids in a calm manner why they are uncomfortable. You can make kids agree to share location just for a specific situation, not every move.
Remember! GPS locations are not always accurate and may generally not give up-to-date information. That’s why, instead of assuming anything wrong at first, try to contact the kids or ask from friends.
Well! If you want phone-based location tracking of kids, like using Google Family Link or Find My, then definitely they should have a phone with them.
Absolutely, reliable family safety apps like FlashGet Kids combine location sharing with broader safety features including screen time, content controls, etc.
