It took a bit of wrangling, but you’ve made arrangements for your grade schooler to be in responsible hands while you’re at work: afterschool care on Mondays; grandparents on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; a caregiver during late-night Thursday meetings; at soccer on Fridays. You shouldn’t have to worry about his well-being. But like most parents, you worry anyway.

To ease this concern, a growing number of parents are using technology, specifically global positioning systems (GPS), to monitor their child’s whereabouts. “The market for these types of products has increased more than 200 percent each year for the past three years,” says Todd Morris, CEO of BrickHouse Security, a supplier of safety and surveillance products in New York City. This technology, originally used in law enforcement, has become less expensive, smaller, lighter and easier to use. Installed in cell phones, watches, sneakers and more, it appeals to many moms and dads. But is it crucial to keep constant tabs on your kid? Is it too invasive? Has “Big Brother” become “Big Mother”?

That depends on your reasoning, says Linda Young, PhD, author of the free online handbook Understanding a Child’s Virtual World (under “Parent Guide” at incredibleinternet.com). In an age when child abductions are so highly publicized, parents have a skewed sense of alarm. In reality, fewer than 2 percent of all violent crimes against children involve kidnapping. Still, parents feel the need to protect their kids as much as possible. If you can’t concentrate on work because you’re ruminating about your child’s safety, it might be worth spending the $200 to $400 or so (plus a monthly fee) on a tracking device.

Reasons for using GPS that probably aren’t worth the hefty price tag: a lack of trust or an inclination to spy. If you can’t rely on your caregiver to bring your child home safely from baseball practice, you need a new caregiver—not a new gadget. By the same token, if you don’t have confidence that your 10-year-old will go straight to Grandma’s after his tutoring session, constant surveillance won’t solve the underlying problem. In this case, it’s best to have ongoing conversations about personal safety, staying in touch and how to get help if needed.

“Kids usually try to live up to your expectations—good or bad,” says Dr. Young. If you use a tracking device, you risk implying a lack of trust and triggering feelings of resentment and maybe even rebellion. That’s why some parents track their kids without telling them. But communication is an important key to family harmony. If GPS will really ease your mind, be sure to drive home the point that your concern is safety, not whether your child can be trusted.      

Safety Without Spying
If you’re not ready to tech-track your kid:

  • Keep up communication. Set a routine of having your child call or text you when he gets to a new location or is running late. For younger children, have your babysitter send updates.
  • Connect with neighbors. If you build trusting relationships with other parents, you can have an extra set of adult eyes watching your child at ball games, afterschool activities and playdates.
  • Establish rules—and trust. Set limits about where your child is and isn’t allowed to go on his own. Then give him a chance to prove he can follow the rules.