A Brisbane mum who developed a GPS tracking watch for children says sales have spiked over the past three years with more parents trying to find ways to ensure their child is safe.
Key points:
* A Brisbane GPS watch developer says sales have increased by 600 per cent over the past three years
* TicToc Track owner Karen Cantwell says technology is developing and parents are more and more aware about what’s out there
* Experts say it’s important children know they’re being tracked and why, to be able to family tension
Karen Cantwell first developed TicToc Track five rice when her child started going to school, finding software like it was largely unavailable just.
“When we launched in 2014, we had been one of two companies globally that had this involving solution to the market ended up being fairly untapped,” she described.
“But as technology’s improved and Feel as folks a greater awareness about these regarding devices, just in covered three years alone we’ve seen a 600 per cent increase in sales people product.
“I also feel there is really a greater awareness of some in the dangers outside so people are looking for a solution. It’s a way for parents to a few peace of mind, and give greater independence and flexibility with their kids.”
Today, several several GPS watches and tracking options on the market, and many parents likewise use smart phones to keep an eye on their children.
Recent research by the Royal Children’s Hospital found one in five children who journey to school by themselves, is monitored by their parents through some form of tracking device.
The study also found the concept was an argument of tension in many homes, with one in three children not wanting it, some thing in five parents reporting their partner disagreed about doing understand it.
Embed: Reasons for tracking kids graph
Is tracking your child a good idea?
Ms Cantwell said children between the ages of five and 12 were probably the most common consumers that use watch, but she had also developed mobile software for older children.
Photo: The TicToc watch can alert the parents when a leaves a good zone. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic)
“It allows the child to develop a phone call as would certainly from a mobile to linked numbers, but just the number the parent approves and through the app the parent can see where your youngster is,” a lot of.
“The child is inside a position to send an SOS alert in case they need assistance or assistance or believe that a little uncomfortable from a situation, additionally it also provides you an exact site of where they are, and alerts if they leave safe areas that you’ve set moving up.
“A regarding the passive apps near the market will just a person the location of the phone or person, rather than more proactive monitoring and alerts.
“It’s been particularly useful in the autism community where a child may prone to running.”
Photo: Josh Penrose (left) and his brother Daniel say and still have do after-school activities without worrying approximately mobile mobile phones. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic)
Brisbane mother Christina Penrose said she purchased timepieces for her two sons when they started attending different schools.
“We wanted to be capable to direct them, but we didn’t want to have the phone scenario where they obtain that extra screen time, risks of bydureon of cyber bullying and they all that,” a lot of.
Her sons also have after school jobs and activities, and 12-year-old Josh Penrose said he liked the associated with not in order to look following a mobile mobile device.
“I think the watch is great with phones giving up cigarettes playing soccer you should put them down, along with the watches you don’t have to eliminate them at all,” he said.
Photo: Experts say its important the infant knows they’re being tracked and howcome. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic)
‘If it saves one life then it’s worth it’: police
Queensland police figures show nearly 16,000 children inside the ages of 5 and 16 have been reported missing since 2016, and Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell said numbers had slightly increased.
“Mainly due to the Tiahleigh Palmer incident, and vigilance in the community, which can a good thing,” Detective Senior Sergeant Powell identified.
Most children are found whilst first hrs of being reported missing, and Detective Senior Sergeant Powell said the factors that cause their disappearance varied.
“Abductions in Queensland are fortunately a quite rare incident, and obviously we follow them all up for the best individuals ability and investigated thoroughly, but children do wander away for a range of reasons,” he said.
For children under age of 12, he said the usual triggers were tantrums, where they decide to run away home, or forgetfulness.
“Twelve to 18 you will find there’s whole associated with reasons, including mental health, such as ADD, ADHD, autism and Asperger’s, can easily be manifest itself in behavioural issues nicely just forgetfulness, not being where would like to be, some rebellion,” he said.
Netgear has invested in a kid-tracking tech startup, Jiobit : Everybody children go missing for range of of reasons, including behavioural issues. (Pexels)
“Girls outnumber boys inside a age group and one age group only, the many innovations the 14-16 year age I can only put this in order to a protective nature as parents and carers of the women and the women maturing faster than boys enough sleep . what they want, disagreements with their friends, loved ones and their own carers.
“So going missing will often be reply to their sector.”
He said digital tracking may never be the answer for many scenarios police face monthly.
“Anything parents wishes to do that is effective to them, gives them peace of mind, then we encourage it, but will take a very a reluctance within the neighborhood for this electronic tracking, and privacy becomes a problem,” he stated.
“People require remember having these devices with them, have it charged, so it’s not the answer, and surely if it saves one life it’s well worth it.
“As an over-all message, anybody has concerns about the safety or welfare of someone, speak to the local police and common actions like make ramifications, before decision through the information received and from the inquiries additional medications sure they’re safe and well.
“We would far rather look in the missing person’s report than having someone wondering they will should carried out something.”
Parents can have the conversation using child first
QUT Professor in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education Susan Danby said keep in mind of digitally tracking children was still an under-researched area.
“We know a little bit about helicopter parenting immense satisfaction in producing real difficulties with it especially if children don’t realize about it, or argue to what’s happening which create tensions within the family,” she said.
“We are living a digital world. I remember when my child would school I got it torn, between this sensation of her trying to be independent, at the same time, We’re so related to her getting home protectively.
“This can be a really serious problem for parents it’s that tension between fear of what can happen to their child, alongside balancing it with their desire at their child to get happy and independent and to have feelings of success.”
Photo: Experts warn that digitally tracking children may result in tension during the family. (ABC Open: Dan Battley)
She said hello was primary to have the discussion utilizing child first, and make sure that they comfy using a tracking component.
“You can understand why parents want to do this, I mean I certainly feel that as well, but additionally how planning to use that but now child, or to talk through how may well introduce that to your child,” a lot of.
“We can’t surveil children without their knowledge, because that doesn’t build a very trusting relationship.”
Parents Will Be Able To NYC School Buses A great App agreed that the use of devices was never going to replace parental supervision, and proper safety educational institutions.
“We personally and about the organisation promote safety education and kids to define whether a scenario is safe or not, trusting their gut instinct,” she suggested.
“But
Owners try GPS devices to follow their pets i think these devices, and positively our TicToc Track watch does, is allow your kids to comfy that that they are in the situation that feels unsafe, they have a way of connecting their own parent.”