GPS tracking is a phrase that can be used in two distinct ways. The first is to refer to a real time position tracking system. The second is to refer to a data logging capability of a GPS device. When the term GPS tracking is used in conjunction with kids then it is almost always referring the real time sense.

The main reason for this is that in order for a kids GPS to keep a child safe it needs to communicate the position of that child in real time. In the event of a disastrous set of circumstances a child needs to be located immediately. Any delay in finding them could result in serious injury or death, two things that most people want to avoid at all costs when it comes to their children.

Any discussion of real time child GPS tracking devices must talk about the different types of devices. There are three main types that one will come across when searching for a kids GPS. They are a GPS tracking watch, a child locator, and a cell phone. While all of these devices offer GPS tracking capabilities for your child, each has its own set of positives and negatives that should be taken into consideration before making a purchase.

Watches are a theoretically ideal match for small children prone to lose things not attached to their bodies and parents seeking to keep their child safe from someone trying to do them harm. As a watch it is attached to the body and as a GPS tracking device it can send information about the child’s whereabouts to the parent. This is a perfect fit! Unfortunately, this concept has not been executed very well in the past.

There are several reasons why this is so. The first is that any tracking watch manufacturer has some size issues to overcome. They must pack a GPS receiver, a cell phone modem, a processor, and a memory in a package small enough to fit on the wrist of a child without looking like a wrist weight reminiscent of a 90s workout video. Many companies have failed to provide this type of functionality in such a small package, but there are several companies engaged in the race to accomplish this feat.

The next type of device is a GPS locator. These devices are generally pretty small and will be easy to conceal inside some article that the child is wearing or carrying. The concealability of these devices is superior to both the wrist watch and the cell phone. With extremely small dimensions these devices can fit inside a child’s pocket, their backpack, or a shoe. When a predator grabs your child they will have a hard time finding the tracker if you have done your job as a parent in placing it in a safe and secure place. Wrist watches, on the other hand, are easily visible and rely on being over looked to avoid detection. This is hard to do when they are so bulky and not very watch-like in appearance.

Child locators also provide excellent tracking capabilities. Most devices are outfitted with advanced A-GPS which makes use of both satellites and cell towers to come to very precise location calculations. These devices have been tested to measure a location to within several meters – quiet the accomplishment for a child tracking device.

Another benefit of these devices is that they are extremely easy to use. You don’t have to be a genius to get one of them running. Simply take it out of the box, charge the sucker, turn it on, and place it on your child. Once you have done that, you should be able to log on with your service provider on the internet and be able to see the movements of your child in real time. If you don’t want to be fixed to your computer all day, many services offer a geofence feature which allows you set up an invisible boundary over which your child should not cross. If they cross it, you will be notified via text message or email, depending on your preference.

The one downside of these device is that they can have a very short battery life. After all, they have packed a lot into a very small package. There is simply no room for lots of additional power to ensure that the device lasts a long time. Most devices will have an active battery life of a few hours. If the device is not sending message constantly then it should be able to last upwards of a week depending on the device. This type of tracker needs to have its battery charged constantly, so take note.

The final type of tracker is a kids GPS cell phone. These devices are kid friendly in that they give them all the power of GPS and a cell phone without all the problems often associated with child cell phone use. They can’t download content from the internet, text their friends and run up the bill, call people they shouldn’t call, or take pictures or video. These are slimmed down, agile devices that serve on purpose and one purpose only – keep you in touch with your child.

They do this extremely well, but they are not the best in circumstances where a child is taken by a person seeking to do them harm. Cell phone are widely known to have traceable qualities and a bad person will get rid of a cell phone immediately. Thus a kids tracking phone might fail you just when you need it the most.

GPS for kids is a tough subject for a lot of parents to navigate who don’t have a lot of technical experience. Joe tries to explain it all at his site kids and GPS.

Article Source: Kids and GPS Tracking