Here’s why our family chose to use a GPS tracker for our kiddo

Happy Monday! If you’ve been following along, you know that our family chose to use a GPS tracker when we went to Disney back in May (if you’re new – Hi! We used a GPS tracker at Disney and after Disney too!). We have received so many questions about our choice to use GPS and what product we went with so I decided to write up a quick post with ALLLLL the deets.

Thanks to Jiobit for Sponsoring this post!*

We worry about our kids

It doesn’t matter how well behaved our kids are, how great they listen, or how well versed they are in our child safety plan. We (us…the parents) worry. We worry in crowded places, we worry when we go on vacation, we worry when we’re at the grocery store picking up that one thing we forgot on our list.

But one thing I’ve learned (especially since our sweet girl started Kindergarten this year) is that we worry most about our children’s safety when they are engaging in everyday activities (without us). When they are walking to school with other parents or groups of friends, when they are supposed to be at school or other drop-off venues and when they are on playdates. We worry because if we are not with them, we can’t be 100% certain of where they are. GPS changes that.

GPS provides everyday peace of mind

Real-time GPS provides peace of mind to parents who can’t possibly be with their kids every waking second (and, I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely our situation!). A GPS tracker doesn’t solve every single problem or worry. But, what it does do, is offer us an instantaneous view into our children’s whereabouts so we don’t have to wonder if they are really at a friend’s house, or if something happened on the way into school. We’ve used it ourselves and let me tell you, that kind of calm is absolutely, one thousand percent priceless.

Here’s how it works

There is a reason why the Jiobit GPS tracker was chosen as PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice and other tech awards. It’s got features. Really useful ones.

• Live Tracking inside or out, at any distance globally using cellular, GPS, wi-fi and Bluetooth.
• Location-based Sound Alerts allow you to set geofences so that when your kiddo enters or exits a Trusted Place, you’re notified and can track their moves in real-time.
• Custom Care Teams (created by YOU): You add safe people (like grandparents and caregivers) and they install the app on their mobile phone, so you know they are actually with the right people and not just at the right location.

• Government Level Encryption at every touchpoint so you know your data is secure.
• Durable, water-resistant, kid-proof (and, if you’re me because I’m a total clutz…Mom-proof)
• Long Battery life of approximately 1 week so you don’t need to charge it every day!
• Flexible Wear: Your kiddo can wear it a few different ways (we like affixing it to her shoe), including belt loops, waistbands and buttonholes. And, while it’s not completely invisible, it is smaller than the size of an Oreo (OMG, I wish I had an Oreo right now!).

How much does it cost?

The device itself is $129.99 + an $8.99-12.99 monthly subscription plan depending upon the plan you choose. And, here’s the thing – I know that this price can be scary for some families. It’s not a small investment, but it is a worthwhile investment nonetheless in my humble opinion.  I mean…our Apple TV cost us more than a Jiobit and, we subscribe to Netflix monthly for $12.99 per month. When I look at it that way and consider what I’m willing to pay for entertainment, it makes it really difficult not to make room in my budget for something I need to ensure my sweet girl’s safety (and my family’s sanity).

If the monthly subscription is out of budget ($8.99 per month, with 2-year commitment), you might consider the month to month option.  This option is a bit pricier than a long-term contract ($12.99 per month), but it allows you to cancel or pause your subscription at any time, allowing you to use it when you need it most (maybe on a trip or during the school year or in the Summer when you’re kiddos away at camp).

One last thing

Jiobit is perfect for children, but it’s also great for the elderly and special needs loved ones and pets. We live in Coyote territory and there is nothing scarier for my neighbors than losing their dog (especially after dark!).  Jiobit attaches right to your dog’s collar and gives you a real-time glimpse into their whereabouts.  So, if they do get it out of the yard, you can pinpoint exactly where they are and pick them up within minutes.

This is a feature I particularly love for my kiddo because, if she ends up outside of her trusted place either by accident or at the hands of a stranger, we know exactly where to look.  And, if that stranger happens to notice she’s wearing Jiobit and removes it, we are still able to direct law enforcement to the exact spot for which she was last with her GPS.  This could shave valuable time off the “guessing” game in a worst-case scenario and for me?  As a Mom?  Game-changing.

MORE ON JIOBIT HERE!

OUR CHILD SAFETY PLAN + HOW WE USED JIOBIT IN DISNEY HERE!

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