UAE Mothers Refuse to Leave Children’s Safety to Chance, Turn to AirTags for School Tracking
Mothers in the UAE have refused to leave monitoring their children to chance, with some turning to Apple AirTags to track them during school journeys, bus rides and field trips.
The small devices are being added to school bags or wristbands, providing reassurance to parents when their children are away from home, especially in their early years at school.
Some mothers reported that they made their choice because of concerns about children being away from their parents on school trips or on school buses alone.
But Dr Alexandre Machado, Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital, cautioned that the constant monitoring might have implications for children’s emotional development.
The practice may sometimes be a reaction to parental anxiety, not necessarily a safety issue, said Machado. He warned that too much supervision might restrict children’s ability to explore, make age-appropriate errors and become independent.
He also cautioned that children might end up feeling helpless without supervision and that the world is an inherently unsafe place.
AirTags are not intended to be a child safety device, but rather a tool to help users find their belongings, like bags and keys.
Machado said parents who are facing certain or serious safety concerns might have a valid reason to consider tracking technology.
He advised parents to be mindful of the need to reassure their children while at the same time allowing them to build confidence, independence and emotional resilience.
