Caveat – This blog post was spawned by the fact that we read an article where a “child safety expert” recommended that parents and caregivers consider using a GPS tracker like an Apple Air Tag, or a GPS enabled device like a watch or phone to keep track of their kids this Halloween – surprise the article was written by a person whose company sells a GPS device for kids!
As Halloween approaches, many parents might consider using GPS tracking devices, like an Apple Air Tag or a GPS enabled watch or phone to monitor their children’s location while they’re trick-or-treating. It seems logical, GPS devices provide a sense of peace of mind and the security of knowing exactly where your child is. But, as with many technological solutions, there’s a deeper and more important question to consider – “just because we can track our kids, does that mean we should?”
Drawing from the experience of Darren, a retired 30-year police officer, there’s an important perspective worth exploring. Throughout his decades of service, he never attended a case of a child abduction on Halloween night. Though abduction is the ultimate fear that leads many parents to use tracking devices, it’s far rarer than the news stories and urban legends might make it seem. Here’s why a GPS tracker or GPS enabled device may not be as necessary as you think, and why relying on it may even have some unintended consequences:
1/ Statistics on Halloween safety reveal that the dangers kids face on Halloween are more often linked to traffic accidents than to abduction. Children are much more likely to be injured by a car while crossing streets than to face a stranger abduction. (1) In fact, most Halloween abduction stories are more fiction than fact. Darren’s firsthand experience as a police officer serves as a testament to this reality – abductions are exceedingly rare, and Halloween isn’t statistically different from any other day in terms of abduction risk.
2/ Halloween is a time for kids to have fun, embrace a little independence, and practice safe decision-making with the guidance of adults. When parents and caregivers lean heavily on GPS tracking, it can send the unintended message that children can’t be trusted to stay safe or be responsible for their actions. Building trust in your children’s ability to make safe choices and letting them explore a little independence is essential for their development. This doesn’t mean abandoning all safety measures, but rather focusing on practical ones, like planning a route together, setting check-in points, and ensuring they’re with a buddy or group.
3/ Tracking devices can create a false sense of security. It’s easy to think that, if something went wrong, you’d be able to intervene immediately. However, relying on a device can detract from teaching your child real-world safety skills. Have conversations with your child about staying in well-lit areas, sticking to their group, and what to do if they encounter a situation that makes them uncomfortable – like where are the safe places on their route that they can go to for help. These practical skills are far more valuable and empowering than any app notification or GPS device.
4/ Many parents and caregivers don’t consider that using GPS tracking might backfire in unexpected ways. Kids might feel the weight of constant surveillance, leading to resentment, a lack of privacy, and even, in some cases, an eagerness to evade tracking. Over time, if children feel they’re constantly monitored, it can create an atmosphere of mistrust. Instead, encouraging open communication and setting clear safety boundaries for Halloween night can make your child feel supported and trusted rather than under tech surveillance.
5/ There are ways to keep Halloween safe that don’t rely on tracking. Start by choosing familiar neighborhoods, going trick-or-treating in groups with responsible older siblings or adults, and encouraging the buddy system. These traditional safety measures have worked for generations and still work well today.
Technology can be useful, but it’s not a replacement for connection, trust, and communication. Remember that Halloween is meant to be a night of fun, adventure, and a little bit of spooky excitement. With basic safety tips and a little planning, parents and caregivers can give their children a fun, safe Halloween without relying on GPS tracking. Rather than investing in a GPS tracking device, instead think about maybe outfitting your child with reflective stripping, glow sticks, flashlight, or even a small strobe LED so that they are more visible at night, and wearing a mask that does not interfere with their peripheral vision, thus reducing the real safety risk of accidentally being hit by a car.
Trust your parenting instincts, rely on proven safety principles, and consider letting Halloween be a night when your child experiences a bit of independence. After all, part of what makes Halloween magical is the excitement of venturing into the night, building memories, and doing it with the confidence that they have your trust and support – Happy Halloween!
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/152/1/e2023062508/191566/Epidemiology-and-Prevention-of-Child-Pedestrian?autologincheck=redirected