A Safer Watch For Kids

If your goal is to know when your child gets from school to activities (or home) without a stream of "Where are you?" texts, there are several approaches depending on your child's age, phone, and your family's privacy preferences.

Here are the most common options:

Option	Best for	What it does
Built-in phone location sharing	Families with iPhones or Android phones	Share live location whenever you choose.
Family safety apps	Multiple caregivers	Real-time location, arrival/departure alerts, driving reports, SOS features.
Smartwatch with cellular	Younger children	GPS tracking, calling, messaging, often without needing a phone.
GPS tracker	Children without phones	Small device kept in a backpack with live tracking.

1. iPhone: Find My

If everyone uses iPhones, Apple Find My can:

• Show your child's live location.
• Notify you when they arrive at or leave places like school or soccer practice.
• Let your child choose to share with family members.

2. Android: Google Family Link

For Android devices, Google Family Link offers:

• Live location (when enabled).
• Battery status.
• Device management and parental controls.

3. Cross-platform family apps

If your family has both iPhones and Android phones, these work well:

• Life360

  • Live location
  • Place alerts ("Arrived at dance class")
  • ETA sharing
  • Emergency features
  • Works across iOS and Android

• GeoZilla

  • Arrival/departure notifications
  • Family location sharing
  • Cross-platform support

4. Cellular smartwatch

For younger children, a cellular smartwatch can be useful if they don't always carry a phone.

Examples include:

• Apple Watch (Family Setup)
• Verizon Gizmo Watch
• Garmin Bounce

These typically provide:

• GPS location
• Calling and messaging
• School mode
• SOS button

5. GPS tracker in a backpack

If your child doesn't have a phone or watch, a dedicated GPS tracker can ride in their backpack.

Examples include:

• Jiobit
• AngelSense

These often require a monthly subscription for cellular service.

If your child rides with different people

Most family location apps and smartwatches don't care who's driving. You'll receive notifications based on the child's location rather than the vehicle, such as:

• Leaving school
• Arriving at piano lessons
• Leaving practice
• Arriving home

This works well when grandparents, carpools, babysitters, or different parents handle transportation.

Privacy considerations

It's a good idea to discuss how location sharing will be used and when it's appropriate. Many families find it works best when it's limited to safety and coordination rather than continuous monitoring, and older children may appreciate being involved in setting expectations.

If you tell me:

• your child's age,
• whether they have an iPhone, Android phone, or no phone,
• and whether your family uses iPhones, Androids, or a mix,

I can recommend the setup that fits your situation best.

Yes. If you mean the Google Pixel Watch 2 Wi-Fi model (the non-LTE version), the Find My Phone feature does work.

From the watch, you can:

• Open the app list.
• Tap Find my phone.
• Your paired Android phone will ring, even if it's on silent (as long as it's powered on and connected to the watch via Bluetooth).

The main limitation is that the watch must be able to communicate with your phone:

• ✅ Works when the phone is nearby and connected over Bluetooth.
• ✅ Can also work over Wi-Fi in some scenarios if the watch and phone remain connected through Google's services and Wi-Fi sync is enabled.
• ❌ It is not a replacement for an LTE connection if the phone is off or completely unreachable.

If you're asking because you're deciding between the Wi-Fi and LTE Pixel Watch 2, I can also explain what features you gain with LTE.

To help keep cannabis edibles away from children, store them as you would any potentially dangerous medication or household chemical:

• Keep them locked up, ideally in a lockbox, locked cabinet, or another secure location that children cannot access.
• Store them up high and out of sight, even if they're locked.
• Leave them in their original, child-resistant packaging whenever possible. This helps reduce accidental exposure and preserves labeling.
• Avoid putting them in containers that look like ordinary snacks or candy jars.
• If refrigeration is needed, place them in a locked container or in a part of the refrigerator that children cannot access.
• Store them separately from regular food to reduce the chance that someone mistakes them for a snack.
• If you have guests, make sure any cannabis products they bring are also stored securely.

If you suspect a child has eaten a cannabis edible, contact your local poison center immediately or seek emergency medical care, especially if the child is difficult to wake, has trouble breathing, or is having seizures.

Taking these precautions can greatly reduce the risk of accidental ingestion.