How To Use “Find My” For Parents: Keep Track Of Your Kids Safely

If you’re a parent with a teenager starting to venture into the world of parties, concerts, and late-night outings, you’ve probably had those moments of anxiety.

You wonder: Are they home safe? Or still at that party? The good news is, if you and your child both have iPhones, there’s an easy solution that can give you some peace of mind: the Find My Device.

With a few simple steps, you can set up location sharing and even automate notifications when your child arrives home. Don’t worry—it’s not complicated, and it’s free. Let’s go over everything you need to know.

Why You Should Set Up “Find My” Before You Need It

Setting up location sharing is more direct than calling or texting, especially for young people or older people. You can keep track of their whereabouts and strange routes to avoid emergencies. In addition to keeping track of people’s locations, Find My Device is more helpful for finding lost wallets, keys, cars and other valuables. Find My Wallet Finder is helpful for every family.

Setting Up Location Sharing in “Find My”

To get started, it’s easier if both you and your child have your iPhones side by side. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Open the Find My app on both phones.
2. Tap on “People” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap “Start Sharing Location” on both devices if this is your first time using the feature.
4. Search for the other person’s name and select them from your contacts (both phones will need to add each other).

You’ll get three options for how long you want to share your location: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. How long you choose is up to you, but if you’re planning on recurring check-ins, “indefinitely” might be the easiest option. Setting it up this way allows you to check in whenever needed, without having to redo these steps every time they’re at an event.

Setting Up Automatic Notifications When They Get Home

What if you don’t want to constantly check the app, but just want to know when your child safely arrives home after a night out? You can set up an automatic alert that notifies you the minute they reach a certain location—like your home.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. From your iPhone, open the Find My app and select your child’s contact.
2. Scroll slightly upward until you see the option for “Notifications.”
3. Tap on “Add” and then “Notify Me.”
4. Choose the option to receive a notification when they arrive at a location.

In this case, the “home” location makes sense if you want an alert when your child arrives safely. This way, you’ll avoid checking your phone repeatedly during the evening.

Now, when you save this setting, a notification will be sent to your child’s phone letting them know this feature is activated. This keeps everything transparent and helps with privacy concerns. They won’t feel like you’re secretly monitoring them, and you’ll still get the peace of mind you need.

Other Handy Features in “Find My”

The app isn’t just limited to location sharing and alerts. Here are a couple of other features worth mentioning:

• Using Siri to ask for location updates: You can call out, “Where is [Child’s Name]?” and Siri will tell you their current location. It’s that simple.
• Location history: You can review a timeline of recent locations, allowing you to verify where your child has been if needed. This feature won’t necessarily show every place they visited but can be useful if you need to piece together larger details.

Why It’s Important for Parents

In today’s world, safety is a top priority, and technology like the “Find My” app gives you a digital safety net. Knowing your child’s whereabouts without needing to call or bother them all the time can let you maintain a healthy balance. You’ll respect their independence while still having that peace of mind in the background. It’s a win-win.

For any parent who’s been up late worrying about their teenager’s whereabouts, this app can be a practical way to take some of that stress off your plate. If you’re not already using it, now’s a great time to start.

Final Thoughts

Setting up Find My is quick, easy, and free. Plus, it’s not just for parents of teens. You can also use it with spouses, aging parents, or anyone in your close circle that you’d want to stay in touch with more closely.

Take just a few minutes to set up location sharing and automatic notifications. You’ll be glad you did the next time your child is out late, and you don’t have to send the dreaded “Are you home yet?” text. Give yourself the peace of mind you need, and use the tools that are already available to you.

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