Halloween Apps Can Track Your Kids While Trick-Or-Treating
Halloween apps give parents a way to keep an eye on their kids' whereabouts without getting in the way of their trick-or-treat rounds. An especially sweet treat, much of this temporary location-sharing technology is available for free.
Here are a few Halloween apps parents may want to check out:
- Track n Treat. With the free iPhone app Track n Treat, children send a time-limited link of their location via a phone number or email. This then allows parents to track their whereabouts via a web browser for the next four hours, reports Reuters. The limited window of surveillance time is likely an attempt to stave off potential privacy concerns.
- Trick or Tracker. Not to be confused with "Track n Treat," the Trick or Tracker app links a parent's and child's phone and uses each phone's GPS capabilities to monitor locations. It includes a safety compass that points children in the direction of home and/or the parents' location, reports NBC News.
- Family GPS Tracker. The name may not be as festive as "Track n Treat" but this app nevertheless gets the job done. Another free app, Family GPS Tracker for iPhone and Android lets parents see where their children are in real-time, and it also sends alerts when a child ventures outside of a set area (no doubt, in a quest for a king-size candy bar).
- Life360. This free app is available for both iPhone and Android. It enables family members to view each others' location on a map and communicate via group messaging. You can set up zones and notifications (e.g. notifying you when your kid makes it to the Halloween party).
While you're at it, you may also want to check out Mamabear, the Amber Alert GPS device, Footprints (iOS), GPS Tracking Pro (Android), and NQ Family Guardian.
Since our smartphones are spying on us anyway, you might as well use it as a safety tool. That way, while your kiddies are out collecting candy, you can stay at home and sip on grownup Halloween treats.
Happy Halloween!
Related Resources:
- 5 Apps to Keep Track of Your Kids This Halloween (Mashable)
- Halloween 101: Top 3 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Candy Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating (FindLaw's Injured)
- 10 'Spooktacular' Halloween Party Legal Tips (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)