7 Best GPS Child Tracking Pendants For Safety
Did you know that in the USA, nearly 2,300 kids go missing every day according to Child Find of America? As a parent, it’s a heart-wrenching thought. How can you keep your child safe? GPS child tracking pendant devices hold the answer. These devices offer a modern solution to an age-old concern. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the 7 best GPS child tracking pendants. Discover their features, benefits, and how seamlessly they fit into your daily life. By the end, you’ll have the information to make a confident choice for your child’s safety.
Disclaimer: We want to assure parents like yourself that we have not received any compensation from the companies or products mentioned in this list. At GPS Tracker Shop, our goal is to provide parents with a helpful guide of GPS child tracking pendant devices designed to enhance child safety. This is a comprehensive list of 7 products designed to help you make informed decisions, but it’s not a ranking from best to worst. Now, let’s explore these GPS trackers for kids that can add an extra layer of security for your family!
Apple Air Tag – Best Wearable GPS For Tracking Child
 | Apple AirTag - Best For Child Safety
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Key Features
- Find My App Integration. Easily track your child’s location using the Find My app, which also allows tracking with friends and devices.
- Small & Affordable: Apple AirTags are only $29 and are small enough for your child to wear.
- One-Tap Setup and Siri. Quickly set up with an iPhone or iPad and use Siri to locate your child.
- Precision Finding. Utilizes Ultra Wideband technology for accurate tracking, ideal for locating your child nearby.
- Broad Network for Distance Tracking. Leverage the vast Apple device network to locate your child even at a distance.
Can I use AirTags to track my kids? The answer is Yes! In fact, an Apple AirTag is the most popular kids’ GPS tracker or pendant-style monitoring device on the market today! It’s a Bluetooth tracker for kids that has no monthly cost beyond the initial price of your Apple phone!
This Apple tracker uses a range of signal types, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and a proprietary system called “Precision Finding,” utilizing Apple’s Ultra Wideband technology. The ultra-high frequencies used in precision finding create spatial awareness to direct you and give a “time of flight” between you and where the Air Tag rests. Besides its’ great tracking features, kids can have fun with a pop-it-style wearable GPS AirTag bracelet or one with a cool animal character.
That sounds pretty awesome, right? It’s a budget-friendly kids’ GPS tracking device with no monthly costs! However, these smart tags are only compatible with Apple phones 11 and up, meaning they cannot be used with older models and have limited use with Android applications. With no subscription, there’s no cellular service, so Apple Air Tags must rely on nearby Apple phones to provide a location update.
Read a real parent’s experience using an AirTag to monitor their kid below:
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Jiobit Child Tracker – Best For Clothing
 | Jiobit GPS Tracker For Kids
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Key Features
- Compact Design. Jiobit’s small, lightweight build allows for discreet attachment to clothing, shoes, and backpacks, ideal for children.
- Nationwide Tracking. Utilizes GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for real-time, accurate location tracking across the country.
- Smart Alerts. Set custom alerts for specific locations and access a history timeline to track any deviations.
- Enhanced Security. Equipped with the Jiobit TrustChip, it offers top-notch security and privacy, fully COPPA compliant.
- Subscription Service. Operates on a subscription model, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, without needing extra SIM or cellular plans.
Of course, there’s an inherent problem with GPS tracking devices for kids: how do you get it on them? The company behind the Jiobit child tracker designed their product around this idea. In the box, this GPS tracker comes with a hemlock clip, a strap clip, and a secure loop attachment, ensuring it can fit on shoes, clothing, backpacks, and more.
It’s a personal GPS tracker built with kids in mind! Water-resistant and shockproof, the Jiobit child GPS tracker is meant to go where your kids go! With 7 to 10 days of battery life, you can keep up to date on your child’s locations and location history through Jiobit’s application compatible with Apple and Android devices.
Watch a video review of Jiobit child GPS trackers via CNBC
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AngelSense – Best Kid GPS Tracker With SOS Button
 | AngelSense Personal GPS Tracker For Kids
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Key Features
- Real-Time Tracking. You can continuously monitor your child’s precise location, both indoors and outdoors.
- Alert System. You’ll receive immediate alerts for unexpected movements, such as early departures or late arrivals.
- Communication Tools. Directly communicate with your child using the assistive speakerphone, and use the SOS button for emergencies.
- Safe Ride Monitoring. Keep track of your child’s transit, receiving updates and alerts for any unexpected delays or stops.
- Emergency Location Sharing. In emergencies, you can quickly share your child’s real-time location with a search team.
Emergencies happen at any point, so your child must be able to call for help. The AngelSense GPS personal tracker has that extra bit to keep your family safe!
No one could say that the AngelSense was lacking in special features! A built-in SOS button ensures your kid or elderly parent can call for help, while a two-way voice calling feature lets you speak with them or call for help from anyone passing by. With that, the always-on approach to GPS tracking creates a style of proactive monitoring that can alert you when your kid has yet to reach a trusted location or leaves too early.
For parents and guardians of kids with special needs or seniors battling dementia, the AngelSense GPS tracking device can offer much-needed peace of mind. A unique locking mechanism with a magnetic key can keep this GPS device safely attached to clothes throughout the day, ensuring accuracy in location tracking.
Read what parents of autistic children had to say about this GPS child tracking pendant on Reddit.
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Bewinner GPS Necklace Tracker For Kids
 | Bewinner GPS Child Tracking Pendant
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Key Features
- Multiple Positioning Systems. Integrates GPS, LBS (Location Based Services), and Wi-Fi positioning for accurate and versatile location tracking.
- SOS Call and Two-Way Voice Function. Equipped with an SOS button for emergencies and supports two-way voice communication for instant contact.
- Diverse Working Modes for Power Efficiency. Offers fast positioning (1-minute intervals), standard positioning (10-minute intervals), and power-saving positioning (hourly intervals) to balance accuracy and battery life.
- Electronic Fence and History Track. Allows setting up a geofence for safety boundaries and keeps a history track of locations, enhancing monitoring capabilities.
Necklaces can be worn throughout school without giving a child their own cell phone or smart watch. You wouldn’t expect this small pendant to have a great battery life, but the Bewinner GPS necklace tracker for kids can last up to 5 days when updating every 10 minutes! Throw geo-fencing, two-way voice calling, and international travel abilities into the mix, and you’ve got a top pick!
Before heading to the Virgin Islands, Saudi Arabia, the Falkland Islands, or El Salvador, be sure to get compatible SIM cards for your cell phones and tracker devices. Bewinner’s GPS tracker is carrier-agnostic, so your monthly subscription can be paid through your normal carrier or another international cellular service.
Apple SE – Best Apple Watch For Kid’s Safety
 | Apple SE GPS Smartwatch
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Key Features
A great thing about the Apple SE watch is that you no longer need an iPhone present to use it. Many have gotten an Apple watch to track location and fitness metrics, but these newer models with cellular capability are great as smartwatches for kids because they also enable video calling and text messaging features without an accompanying iPhone.
This GPS watch combines a fitness tracker, music player, and payment device into a fashionable kid’s watch they’re sure to cherish and protect. Kids can even monitor and control smart home security systems to let themselves into the house while you’re away at work or the store. More than a kids’ GPS tracker watch, the Apple Watch SE helps to encourage individuality, responsibility, and maturity!
Mini A9 GPS Tracker Necklace
| | Mini A9 Child GPS Tracking Pendant
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Key Features
- Comprehensive Positioning. You can accurately track your loved ones outdoors with GPS and indoors with Wi-Fi and LBS positioning.
- SOS and Two-Way Voice. In emergencies, they can press the SOS button for help and communicate with you directly.
- Voice Monitoring. Activate this to discreetly listen to the surroundings of the device, ensuring their environment is safe.
- Geofence Alerts. Set up a virtual boundary and get notified if they leave this safe zone.
- Multi-Platform Monitoring. Whether you use Android, Apple, or a computer, you can monitor their location in various modes for efficiency.
The Mini A9 GPS Tracker Necklace is designed for convenience and ease of use, with a lightweight and comfortable design that can be worn around the neck or attached to any object. It is water-resistant, making it suitable for use in any weather.
This tracker has a long battery life, lasting up to 7 days on a single charge, and a low power consumption mode that allows it to run for up to 30 days on a single charge.
In addition to providing real-time tracking, it also has an SOS button for emergencies and a two-way calling feature to stay in touch with loved ones.
Lil Trackers – Small Wearable Personal GPS
 | Lil Trackers Child GPS Watch
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Key Features
- Versatile Positioning. You can track your child’s location anytime using GPS, LBS, and Wi-Fi positioning.
- Remote Monitoring. Listen in to your child’s surroundings anytime with the high-sensitivity microphone.
- Two-Way Voice Calls. Stay connected with your child through voice calls, ensuring they can reach you when needed.
- SOS One-Key Calling. Your child can quickly call for help by pressing the SOS button for 3 seconds.
- Geofencing Alerts. Receive alerts if your child leaves a preset-safe area, helping you monitor their movements.
GPS smartwatches have become a popular method of giving kids GPS-tracking devices they will use. However, not everyone can afford kids’ GPS tracker watches like the Apple Watch SE or other popular models.
Like the Xplora X5 Play tracker watch, the LilTrackers GPS tracker watch is a paired-down version that offers the same 4G LTE real-time GPS tracking services. These kids’ smartwatches are customizable with 10 different watch faces they can get a replacement watch band in blue, pink, purple, and black to make it their own!
Related Content: 7 Best Portable GPS Trackers
Benefits of Child Tracking Pendants
Beyond having access to the realtime location of your loved ones, there are many other benefits to using GPS trackers for kids:
- Ensure they remain at school during normal school hours.
- Offer your kids a chance for independence while guaranteeing their safety.
- Mark off trusted areas of the map with geo-fences and get notified when your child leaves these boundaries.
- GPS smartwatches for kids like Lil Trackers’ GPS watch offer two-way voice calling and texting for check-ins.
- Some work during international travel to areas like Papa New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Vatican City, and the Virgin Islands.
- Many also have an SOS button that allows a child to automatically call for help at any moment and update the parent or guardian with the exact location of the child.
- Location history can show a pattern of behavior, detailing how much time kids spend at school versus their friends’ houses or the local arcade.
Drawbacks of Child Tracking Pendants
Let’s face it: not everything can be roses and chocolates when it comes to finding a small watch or pendant GPS tracker for kids. Here are some issues you might run across when tracking your kids:
- Personal information, such as a child’s location history or real-time location, may be collected by tracker devices and sold to third parties.
- You might need to recharge tracker devices every few days because of their small batteries.
- Accurate location tracking may not be available in areas with poor GPS coverage.
- GPS tracking devices such as a watch or necklace could potentially be lost by the child if they’re playing or forget to put them back on after a sporting event.
- The monthly costs of a subscription required to keep necklaces and GPS watches for kids activated might be a financial burden.
- Some tracker devices may require a contract lasting up to a year or more.
Key Features That Matter In A GPS Child Tracking Pendant
Every parent should be able to experience the peace of mind that comes with trackers for kids. Often, there is a subscription required with monthly fees to activate cellular SIM cards inside a mini personal GPS tracker like those on this list. We tried to find GPS trackers for kids with monthly costs that fit most budgets, but please let us know your successes with any other kid locator devices you have used.
Other features that matter in a GPS tracker for kids are the extra data that you can access and the privacy agreements regarding your child’s personal information. Many of these companies are COPPA-compliant, meaning they adhere to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. This congressional act allows parents to access any information about their children that was gathered by companies and websites, such as user records and login information.
Of that extra data, you can create maps of your child’s location history, get notified of emergencies with the push of an SOS button, see if your kids are skipping school, or know if they’re outside of their comfort zones all from computer and smartphone applications designed with parents in mind.
Tips For Monitoring Your Kid With A GPS Tracker The Right Way
When monitoring your child with a GPS tracker, start by getting their consent. Have an open, honest conversation with them. Explain your reasons for tracking and ask for their agreement. This approach shows respect for their privacy and builds trust.
Next, establish clear boundaries. Inform them about what you’ll track and what you won’t. You might track their location with friends but not at home or school. Setting these limits demonstrates your trust and respect for their privacy.
Remember, use GPS tracking as a secondary tool. It should supplement, not replace, traditional parenting methods. Keep it as a backup to oversee your child’s safety, but don’t rely solely on it.
Also, avoid being a helicopter parent. Give your children space and independence. Resist the urge to constantly check their location or overly involve yourself in their activities. This freedom allows them to grow and learn independently.
Finally, make GPS tracking a positive experience. Encourage your kids to explore new places and meet new people using the tracker. This turns tracking into an exciting adventure, promoting their sense of discovery and curiosity.
Following these steps ensures that GPS tracking aids in your child’s safety while respecting their independence and privacy.
Child Tracking Pendant & Wearable GPS Device FAQs
How Far Do Child GPS Pendants Work?
Yes, child GPS pendants vary in their range of effectiveness, and this largely depends on the specific product you choose. Some kid’s GPS tracker devices are versatile enough to function like a car GPS tracker, useful for local travels around town or even abroad. However, it’s crucial to understand that the effectiveness of these devices can differ significantly based on location.
In many cases, mini GPS tracker devices for kids work well outside major metropolitan areas in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, or Hong Kong. You can also take them to international locations such as the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and the United Arab Emirates. For these areas, you’ll likely need an international SIM card to ensure the real-time GPS personal tracker functions properly.
Remember, not all locations offer 4G GPS service, which is essential for these trackers and devices. In crowded areas or regions with limited service, consider using backup units like an Apple AirTag as an additional kid tracking method.
Is It Possible To Put A GPS Chip In Your Child?
No, you cannot put a GPS microchip in your child. Currently, no such microchip trackers exist that can be implanted under a child’s skin for tracking purposes. If you consider the microchips used for pets, remember that these do not provide real-time location data. Instead, they serve as a barcode containing the pet’s basic information. To access this information, someone must scan the microchip.
Are GPS Necklace Trackers Safe For Kids To Wear?
Typically, a GPS necklace tracker will be safe for kids to wear. However, depending on your child’s allergy level, you may wish to check the manufacturer’s specifications on the materials used.
Devices like the Jiobit and AngelSense are designed to be worn on clothing, so skin sensitivity issues may not be an issue. The magnetic locks of the AngleSense and the multiple clipping options of the Jiobit enable more creative placements for these pendant GPS tracking devices.
Our Top Pick To Track Your Child
There are many factors to weigh when deciding which kids’ GPS personal tracker to purchase, but we can’t pick just one; all the best features can’t be found in a single unit. This conclusion was from hands-on testing based on our stringent evaluation methods. Two-way talk and text is a great feature of GPS smartwatches from Lil Trackers, but it’s unavailable on the Jiobit. Special locking mechanisms aren’t available with the Mini A9 pendant tracker, while they are for the AngelSense. And the long battery life of up to a year from Apple AirTags is only a dream of models like the Bewinner GPS.
Your situation may call for a specific feature, so do your own research to find which GPS tracker for kids might be your top pick. Your child’s safety may depend on tracking devices like these at any moment; make sure it’s the right one for your kid.
Do you need help finding the best child GPS trackers? Give one of the security experts at GPS Tracker Shop a call at 1-855-922-8100. Reps are available 7 days a week to answer all your GPS tracking questions.
Some images in this article, “GPS Child Tracking Pendant” were created using AI to enhance the reader experience.
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