10 Tracking Gadgets That Are Perfect for Families

Keep a firm (literally or digitally) grip on your kids no matter where life takes you.

By Melissa Heckscher June 8, 2017

Compared to your kid, Houdini was an amateur. If you avoid crowds and frequent fenced-in playgrounds for fear of losing your little one to the Big Wide World, we’ve got good news. From GPS-enabled smartwatches to innovative child leashes (no judgment here!), there’s a whole range of great gadgets and apps designed to stop little escape artists from disappearing—and how to find them if they do. Flip through the slideshow below to see our top picks.

AngelSense

If you're the parent of a special-needs child, you know staying within the boundaries can be a battle, and trusting your kid to keep a smartwatch or clip-on device attached to her body is also an iffy proposition. Enter AngelSense, a GPS tracking device and specialized mobile phone designed specifically for kids with sensory issues or other special needs. What does that mean? AngelSense's cell-enabled tracker attaches securely to clothes with a special, locking clip and, unlike a regular phone, the device automatically answers calls and broadcasts through a speaker without the kid having to press any buttons.

For parents worried about wandering wee ones, there's a warning system to immediately notify them if their child has left a particular location. In addition, an alarm feature allows parents to trigger a siren to help locate their kid in a crowd. Other features include live tracking GPS (parents get a text message every time kids depart and arrive at various destinations) and a "Listen In" feature that lets parents hear what is going on around their kids at any given time.

Best for ages: 2+.

Cost: $119 plus $39.99 for monthly cell service that includes the "Listen In" feature.

Online: angelsense.com

photo: AngelSense