| Probably every parent has had this experience at | | | | For the very young, and before they start to wander, |
| least once. You are out at the zoo, a crowded | | | | there are baby monitors and security cameras. |
| amusement park or mall, you look away from your | | | | For toddlers there are gadgets that attach to the child. |
| child for what seems like 2 seconds, you look back, | | | | They work on the same principal as cordless phone |
| and your heart lurches when they are no longer there. | | | | finders. The activator is kept in a purse or on a key |
| It happens so fast and it can happen so easily. You | | | | chain. To find your child, just use the activator and the |
| want to keep track of your child, but kids are naturally | | | | device on the child will beep loudly. |
| curious. They find everything amazing. They are also | | | | Then there are distance monitors. These are also in |
| fast. In their own little world, they have no idea of the | | | | two parts, one for the child to wear and one for the |
| dangers of wandering off. | | | | parent. If the child strays outside of a specified area, |
| Even if you tell them it is dangerous, their minds don't | | | | the alarm sounds. Some of these also have panic |
| really have the capacity to understand danger or any | | | | buttons for the child in case they ever feel threatened. |
| possible horrendous outcome. Nor do we want them | | | | Audio and visual alarms are great ideas for attracting |
| to know. | | | | attention to a potential attacker. The child wears the |
| Unfortunately the statistics on this are not low. Over | | | | alarm, usually in the form of a watch, and can set off |
| 725,000 cases of missing children are reported every | | | | the alarm if they feel they are in a potentially |
| year in the USA. All of them occurred while out in a | | | | dangerous situation. |
| public place, either with a parent or while under the | | | | As your children widen their horizons and fly out of |
| supervision of an adult. | | | | your sight for hours on end, you can keep track of |
| So what are parents supposed to do? Obviously you | | | | them by various means. Of course, there are cell |
| need to take your children out in public. You can't keep | | | | phones. There are also wireless products which can |
| them locked up until they are 18 (which would present | | | | be used as tracking devices, and can also monitor up |
| a whole other set of problems). | | | | to 4 children at one time. |
| Fortunately technology has come a long way and has | | | | Then comes good old GPS. Much to the consternation |
| brought with it a vast array of child safety devices | | | | of your teen, the sky is the limit with these devices. |
| that make parenting a lot less stressful - well, in one | | | | GPS tracking systems are a gift to parents. Your |
| area anyway! | | | | teenager may not like it, but on the other hand, what |
| Parents everywhere must be applauding the inventors | | | | do teenagers like? |
| of the child tracking device. Starting with the very | | | | All joking aside, as a parent only you can make the |
| young and adapting to various age groups, right up to | | | | decision on how far you want to go with monitoring |
| the teens, parents can now have some kind of peace | | | | your teen with GPS. Who knows, they may even |
| of mind when it comes to locating their children. | | | | thank you one day. |