Paranoid Parent

Noah is starting school and I want to get him a watch with GPS. Does this make me overprotective? Crazy?

I don't want to get him a phone with GPS, although that would be the cheapest option. Phones aren't allowed in school so he wouldn't be able to carry it around on his waist or in his pocket.

That leaves me with a watch or something else that attaches to Noah. Like the Chitter Chatter Phone from Hop-On. Unfortunately, it's not released yet. They are telling the public that it will only cost $50. You can call the watch anytime to get a GPS reading on where your kid is. They can also push the star button to alert you to a change in their location, or push one of the other picture buttons to call home, mom, dad or 911. I don't know if it would be allowed in school, it is a phone after all, but it doesn't have a ringer and he could hide it under long sleeves.

The chitter chatter phone which I would not oder in pink.

But, as I said, it's not available yet and who knows when or if it will be. That sucks, because it is cheaper than watches with only GPS, like the Wherify Watch at $179:


You actually lock this on your child's wrist. If someone tries to pry it off, it emits a LOUD alarm. There is also a panic button that calls 911 with the child's location. The monthly fee ranges from $20 - $45. It also gets pages, which is an option I'm not really interested in.

Other GPS watches that look like a normal watch start at $400.

Sigh. I don't know if I can realistically make this happen, unless I find a really good deal. I honestly don't know why this technology is so expensive. You can get a phone with GPS in it for $50. Why is plain old GPS four times that much?

If any technogeeks out there have other ideas, please let me know.