Tracking Family

As Zach gets more and more independent we have been considering a family tracking app. He isn't out and about much yet. But, it's a walking town and starting next year there will be more times he's independent. I have been receiving recommendations for a specific app. Today was our first day with it. Life 360 is the company. I've had strangers on the Jersey Shore boardwalk and friends with teenagers at Zach's school recommend it. There also have been a bunch of people on a facebook parenting group too.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.life360.android.safetymapd&hl=en

Life 360. The link is above for google play.

 

You create a family circle. They give you a pin for anyone you want to include in the circle. It tracks where everyone is, the fastest someone is driving, everyone's cell battery levels, and where you have been. You can see a satellite map or a regular map. There is a more complete version currently $7.99 a month for 12 months. I am thinking about springing for that.

 

It's great for tracking kids. It's great to know who is home and who isn't. But, it's an interesting experience when someone in your family is a delivery driver for a job. Especially when they are full time and do that for 13 - 14 hours a day!

 

Josh made on delivery that looked like a flexed arm on the map. In the satellite version I saw my car in the parking lot from my phone. One thing is for certain, Josh had definitely had a busy work day! When I go to his trips for the day there are a lot of numbers! They count the trips you take in a day. It looks like a picture made by a one year old!

 

Josh has made a lot of references to my delivery stalking. Yes, I have enjoyed tracking Josh. But, he knows I am doing it and I'm really just curious. He also knows why we went for the app and that it's not like I could really see him specifically. We talked about all of this first. He likes knowing where we are too.

 

I do recommend this app. I am having fun with it. I know the older Zach gets, the more I will come to rely on this app. I think when your kids start getting some out of the house independence being able to track them is great. I selected the option to include locations for hospitals, rescue squads, fire houses, and police departments as well as notifications for nearby sex offenders (none yet).

 

Before this app I would call Josh and say something about where he is a lot more often then you'd think. He's always comment on how could I know where he was. So, this app didn't really change that. It confirms I am right, but I knew before the app. It's the same think with driving instructions. I can get us home from most places in northern NJ. And from some places in southern NJ too. Without a GPS. It's a special kind of intuition.

 

I recommend this app if you have a family. It's a nice way to get a piece of mind. I have the free version now. It's great but I do like the idea of what they can offer for the paid version too. It's worth it for: