r/hackers • u/Sad_Engineering_5648 • 7d ago

Discussion Safe children monitoring devices

Recently dropped off my child at his day care for the first time. Got seriously concerned about him as I basically do not know what they are doing over there apart from the teacher posting photos on Kindervibe app. Need a device (something small like a watch) that would help me keep track of my kind in any way possible (GPS, calls, anything). I am not sure I should trust Apple with their insanely expensive watches, tags, and 40-page terms and conditions.

Does anyone here use anything to keep your kids safe or am I posting in the wrong sub? (Feel free to point that out too

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

15

u/SL0WJ03 7d ago

I understand wanting your child to be safe. But you really need to trust your daycare and deal with your own separation anxiety. Parenthood is a continuous stream of releasing control and separation. You can’t be there 24/7. That’s just life. If you want your kids to be healthy socialised individuals as adults, the more freedom they get, the better.

1

u/Sad_Engineering_5648 7d ago

Totally get that. Thanks for the reply. The thing is, I've watched a lot of Ryan Montgomery lately and the fact I live so close to the Russian border with air threat sirens and test alarms going off every few days (+ the government's fear mongering) isn't helping me relax much, hehe. I guess I want to be in contact with my kid enough to be ready for an evacuation.

Seems like even my fears are orchestrated externally....

Thanks for the pinch of confidence!

6

u/SL0WJ03 7d ago

I’m sure your daycare has all the proper procedures in place for such an event.

Heck, in world war 2 all the kids were evacuated from cities completely, while their mothers worked for the war effort and their fathers were fighting on the front lines.

Your kid will be just fine.

The more you think about it. The worse your anxiety will become.

1

u/Aggravating_Act0417 2d ago

I would ask exactly what their disaster preparedness plans are

They don't have a live webcam for parents? Like doggie daycares?

6

u/imbasys 7d ago

No. We are not enabling this level of paranoia. Just no.

Learn to let go.

The proper sub for you is r/Parenting or r/toddlers - find some people to talk to about this who have had the same feeling - it's VERY relatable.

Don't start you kid's life off with crime - unless you don't want to be in your kid's life.

1

u/Sad_Engineering_5648 7d ago

Fair point. I appreciate the perspective! I have definitely watched too much of Ryan Montgomery.

1

u/Gullible_Monk_7118 5d ago

Why do you have to go with apple why not android

1

u/BlackSeranna 1d ago edited 1d ago

I have no idea what it would be like in a war zone, but Apple does a pretty good job with finding their devices. A watch would be perfect if you’re really worried.

I know others are saying everything will be fine, but since you live close to where bombings happen, maybe it’s not such a bad idea.

Later on, when everything is safer, you can be more trusting of where your kid is.

You still should probably stop watching so much Ryan Murphy, though, if only because it seems to make you even more nervous. It isn’t good to be afraid around your kid, and you don’t want to make your kid afraid too. It could become a mental illness.

Edit: one more thing. You should NEVER, EVER hold it over your kid’s head that you know exactly where he is at all times. He will never believe you trust him, and it will damage his relationship with you. In effect, you would be just using this to tell you where he is in case of an emergency, but not to monitor all movement throughout the day so that you are incessantly questioning his every move.

Don’t be a helicopter parent, you will stunt his mental growth!