Tech retains your college students protected in school

When my son went to preschool at age 4, I taught him to make use of a cellphone for teenagers that I tossed in his backpack. It had no apps and 4 numbers: Mother, Dad, Grandma, and 911. This time was means earlier than college shootings have been within the headlines.

Many mother and father are shocked once they uncover what their little one is doing on their telephones, tablets, or computer systems. Don’t be that guardian. Get proactive. Very like you’ve got the intercourse discuss along with your children, have the digital life discuss. Tap or click for my free tech contract parents and kids can use to set boundaries.

A new report shows there have been 193 incidents of gunfire on college grounds throughout the 2021-2022 college yr. I can’t think about the stress of dropping your little one off in school now and actually questioning whether or not they are going to be protected. 

That’s why I need to assist any guardian or guardian with school-age kids use the proper tech. To your comfort, I’ve linked to some useful merchandise you possibly can try and order on Amazon. I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases, however I guarantee you, my suggestions are at all times impartial.

Right here’s what I’d do

Many colleges don’t let children have cellphones within the classroom till they attain a sure age. Smartwatches generally is a higher security instrument than cellphones. Right here’s the rationale why.

In an emergency, children can faucet a couple of buttons on a watch. This motion is extra inconspicuous than making a telephone name, particularly when the watch is hidden below lengthy sleeves.

For little children, I like T-Cell’s SyncUP KIDS Watch. It makes calls and texts to accepted contacts, however it additionally has real-time location monitoring, digital fences and one button to press to name for assist or 911.

An Apple Watch is great for older children who use an iPhone. Keep in mind, that is sized for grownup wrists, so it’s not effectively suited to younger children. The Apple Watch SE is an effective deal in comparison with the way more costly newer fashions.

Take the time to show your little one how you can use any smartwatch. To make use of Apple’s Emergency SOS function, press and maintain the aspect button till the Emergency SOS slider seems. Dragging the slider calls emergency companies and sends your little one’s present location to any emergency contacts. Here are the steps for setting up emergency contacts.

For older children and teenagers with an Android telephone, the Samsung Galaxy Watch contains an SOS function that sends a message to designated emergency contacts, together with location info. You’ll be able to alter the settings in order that that is accessible by urgent the Dwelling key 3 times. Here’s how.

Skip Fitbits since they don’t have an emergency or SOS function.

RELATED: How to set up parental controls on all your kid’s devices: Windows, Apple, Android

Put a tracker on them or of their backpack, too

A monitoring system is one other solution to keep watch over the place your child is all through the day. In an emergency, it may enable you to find them, too. 

You probably have an iPhone, use an AirTag. I’ve them all over: On my baggage, my canine’s collar, my automobile, my purse, you identify it. Here are more smart uses for the inexpensive trackers.

You’ll be able to slip one into your little one’s backpack, however it could not at all times be on them. You do what feels appropriate on your little one. I like these equipment that at all times preserve it proper on their physique:

For Android customers, you should utilize a Tile tracker or a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+. 

Apps on your little one’s telephone

In case your little one has a telephone and is allowed to carry it to highschool, there are methods they’ll rapidly and silently contact you.

Life360 affords location monitoring and a solution to ask for assist with out saying a phrase. The free model contains the SOS Assist Alert. In case your little one opens the app and faucets or holds the SOS button, an alert with their location is shipped to the emergency contacts you arrange forward of time.

Paid choices begin at $14.99 a month and add many extra options.

Noonlight is one other strong choice. Your little one can press a button to name for assist silently. There’s an additional step, so this one is greatest used with older kids and teenagers. 

With Noonlight, open the app and maintain down on the button that reads “Maintain till protected.” If there is no such thing as a emergency, launch the button and enter a four-digit pin to cancel. Releasing the button with out coming into a pin will notify police of an emergency.

The Security Community function is great, too. You’ll be able to request a check-in along with your little one; in the event that they don’t reply, the app will enable you to hint them. Word: This works solely with iPhones. The security button works with iPhone and Android.

Know your choices: 9 safety apps you’ll want on hand in an emergency

Observe at residence

It pains me to say this, however you must also have security drills at residence so your children know what to do if they should. Educate them how you can use their smartwatch or telephone apps to contact you in an emergency. 

Focus on along with your little one when and the place it’s applicable to drag out their telephone — and what constitutes an emergency. That is particularly necessary with younger children.

Hold your tech-know going 

My well-liked podcast is named “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a strong half-hour of tech information, ideas, and callers with tech questions such as you from everywhere in the nation. Seek for it wherever you get your podcasts. To your comfort, hit the hyperlink beneath for a current episode.

Do you utilize navigation apps once you drive? Buckle up. You might need to cope with adverts cluttering the display. Additionally, Ford desires to make night time driving simpler with its good headlights. Plus, is somebody watching you with a hidden tracker? Listed here are the indicators it’s good to be careful for.

Take a look at my podcast “Kim Komando Right this moment” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast participant.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Simply seek for my final identify, “Komando.”

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