Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  AirTags - Tracking Devices at Preschool

    Posted 01-06-2023 04:11 PM
    Hello Community,

    Has anyone written a policy for AirTags or tracking devices sent with/on children to preschool? I've already had an issue with them getting mixed up (children trading them), and taking a step back why would a parent/caregiver feel one is warranted?

    Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.

    Kind regards,
    Renee Hennessy 



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    Renee Hennessy
    Goshen KY
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  • 2.  RE: AirTags - Tracking Devices at Preschool

    Posted 01-07-2023 10:59 AM

    I've only worked with one family who sent their child to school with a tracker. In this instance, the child had an air tag/tracker/not sure of brand because this 3 year old was highly likely to elope and the child's caregiver had limited mobility. The caregiver used a tracker already, prior to the child starting in our program, so we accepted it. 



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    Lizzy Chandler
    Teacher
    Bellingham WA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: AirTags - Tracking Devices at Preschool

    Posted 01-07-2023 03:06 PM

    Generally, parents are concerned about safety.  And often they are worried about safety in general, not just at preschool.  My own daughter was a runner as a preschooler and it honestly felt like she waited for an adult to turn their back to make her escape.  If GPS tracking had been an option, I probably would have considered it. That said, Air Tags aren't designed for tracking living things. They are designed for tracking lost keys and wallets that don't leave your house by themselves. 

    If may be beneficial to explain your safety protocols to alleviate the parents concerns and also talk about how the air tags don't live track people unless the tag can connect to a iPhone within 30 feet. If an iPhone user is more than 30 ft from the child, there would be no way to track them. (https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/how-to-track-your-child-without-airtags )



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    Jennifer Stepken
    M.S. Special Education/ASD specialist
    Supervisor, Clackamas ESD
    Clackamas, OR
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: AirTags - Tracking Devices at Preschool

    Posted 01-09-2023 12:28 PM
    It's likely that parents regularly use tracking devices on their kids out of concern about kidnapping and trafficking.  Your experience with kids trading them illustrates the limitations of technology.  Our world is so messed up I fear parents will chip their kids before long.

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    Kelly Rosenleaf
    Exectuive Director
    Child Care Resources, Inc.
    Missoula MT
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    Original Message