The world today is full of dangers and threats to our families. You only have to turn on the news or look on the internet to hear and see some of the horror stories that some parents have to go through because the proper steps haven’t been taken when it comes to protecting their children.
One of the main problems that parents face is knowing where their children are at all times. Let’s face it; if a child goes to their friend’s house and walks unless you receive a call or a text when they get there, there’s no way of knowing that they’ve got them safely.
Likewise, if your children are playing outside, that’s great, it’s even encouraged, but you need to put the time and effort into making sure that they are playing in a safe location, not going anywhere that they shouldn’t, and are safe from strangers.
One of the best solutions to this problem is using geofencing iOS, so here’s a complete guide detailing everything you need to know about how does geofencing work on iPhone.
Part 1: How Does Geo-Fencing Work?
Geo-fencing is a unique and extremely helpful feature that has come to iPhone devices since iOS 5. A geo-fence is actually an imaginary boundary on a physical place, such as the walls of your house or even the walls of a shop.
When you pass inside or outside of these boundaries (passing through the fence) an action is triggered on the device. This could be an alarm, an alert, a setting change, an app launch or even just a simple reminder.
Typically, this geo-fencing feature is used to make sure you don’t forget anything or to make your life easier. For example, you might set up a geo-fence notification to remind you to pick up milk as you walk into a shop.
However, using geofences can be incredibly helpful when it comes to tracking the location of your child to guarantee their safety.
Part 2: How to Set Up GeoFencing iOS Notifications to Track Your Child on an iPhone
The setup for geofence alerts and processes differs depending on what device and operating system you’re using. For iPhone users, you can simply use the Find My Friends solution that is built into the device’s firmware.
Use Find My Friends
Step #1
Firstly, you’re going to need to download or update the Find my Friends app on both your iPhone and your child’s iPhone. Once everything is up-to-date with the latest settings, you’ll need to invite your child to become one of your followers on the app.
Step #2
Once the notification has been sent, you’ll need to accept it, and the connection between the devices will be made. Since the connection has been made, you’ll be able to see your child’s location from your device no matter where you are in the world.
Note: Although there are parental control settings that can stop your child from removing you as a follower or deleting the app, there’s no guarantee they won’t turn off their location settings or simply turn off their phone.
Step #3
Now everything has been installed; you’ll need to set up your geofencing iOS. You can only do this once you’ve become a follower of the app. One of the drawbacks of the app is the fact that you can only set up one geo-reminder at a time, so make sure you keep them updated at all times for the most accurate results.
That’s all you need to do to geofence iPhones.
Part 3: How to Set Up GeoFence Notifications to Track Your Child on an Android?
On the other hand, depending on your device, the Android operating system doesn’t come with anything like the Find my iPhone or Find My Friends app, with the minimal exception of Samsung phones.
However, there is an all-in-one solution you can use to track and monitor your child’s location through their Android device known as Spyzie.
Using Spyzie
Here’s the complete step-by-step guide on how to set up Spyzie and start using it to track your child’s location.
Step #1 – Registering an Account
Firstly, you’ll need to make your way over to the Spyzie website and click the ‘sign-up button on the top right-hand side of the screen. This will give you the opportunity to create an account with the service.
For this, you’ll simply need to input your email address and create a password to protect your account. Once you’ve accepted the terms and conditions, click ‘Sign-up to move on to the next step.
Step #2 – Installing Spyzie
On the next page, you’ll need to start filling in information on your child. This includes their name, their age (for age-sensitive notifications), and the operating system their device is running, in this case, Android.
Next, you’ll want to take your child’s device and head over to the Settings menu. Under the security option, you’ll see a setting titled ‘Unknown Sources’ which you’ll need to enable.
Then, simply follow the download link on your installer where the Spyzie app will download onto the device. Once downloaded, simply tap and follow the onscreen instructions to install it. Once installed, the app will make itself invisible on the device, and you’ll be able to move on to Step #3.
Step #3 – Using Spyzie for Tracking an Android Device
Now, head back over to the Spyzie website on either your own mobile device or using a desktop computer, no matter where you are in the world, and log into your account. This will automatically direct you to your personal control panel.
Using the menu on the left-hand side, you’ll be able to access all the tracking and monitoring applications that Spyzie has. Select the ‘Locations’ option, or use the map on the homepage of the control panel, for accurate and up-to-date information on the real-time location of the device and therefore your child.
Summary
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android device, there are so many options out there that you can use to track the location of your child’s device that you should be able to guarantee their safety and wellbeing at all times.