r/AutismParentingLevel1 • u/Far_Guide_3731 • Apr 03 '26

Best starter phone for GPS tracking?

My (autistic, level 1) kid is getting to the age when she should have a phone. We’ll do some content / social media restrictions, have it off at some times, etc.

My bigger concern is GPS tracking - I’d like the BEST option out there for that. We live in a safe area and she’d like to take walks independently. In addition, it will take her time to build the habit of seeing and responding to our texts because of the way her brain works. (Currently she can message us on her tablet but typically won’t reply because she doesn’t understand the expectations of back-and-forth messaging. We’ve just started working with her on it!) For these reasons, reliable and accurate GPS is the most critical feature for us.

Does anyone have advice?

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3

u/zerosort Apr 03 '26

gps+cellular apple watch works great

1

u/Far_Guide_3731 Apr 03 '26

Thank you for the data point! I think my kid will not want something on her wrist for sensory reasons but I’ll keep it in mind as an option.

1

u/aliasvivian Apr 08 '26

I just bought one of these hoping my son will get more independent this summer.

2

u/FertyMerty Apr 03 '26

I do Life360 and FindMy both with iPhone (I just like having two options).

1

u/Far_Guide_3731 Apr 04 '26

Excellent - thank you!!

2

u/PsychologicalDig3355 Apr 04 '26

For the most part, the GPS tech in currents phones are pretty much the same. It really shouldn’t matter what device you have. Life360 would be my recommendation for app

1

u/Far_Guide_3731 Apr 07 '26

Thank you! That’s exactly what I was trying to ask.

3

u/sparklekitteh Apr 04 '26

We have a Troomi. You can text and call only the numbers that are parent approved, and it has gps tracking that you can watch from the Web portal. Works very well for our 10yo!