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HGTV Star Uses App to Track Kids’ Driving Habits — Is It Worth It?
By Movieguide® Contributor
HGTV star Joanna Gaines has found a way to keep track of her kids.
“I stalk them on the app Life360! It tells you how fast they’re going,” she told PEOPLE.
This is because “all four of my older kids are driving now,” and Gaines isn’t alone in keeping track of her kids’ driving habits.
According to Parents, nearly 50% of parents track their kids’ driving, and a USAA report found that for 87% of parents, their teens’ driving improved after using the app.
“Young drivers were more observant of speed limits, less distracted by their cell phone, and had better awareness of other drivers,” the report said.
However, experts advise parents to use the app in a healthy way so they don’t strain their relationship with their children.
“If these apps are used as a means of surveillance, that’s when this can become an issue, as the app turns into a power and control tactic, which can lead to issues within the parent-child relationship,” said licensed clinical social worker Yaranil Ferrer.
Life360 offers a few tips for parents, too:
1. Establish Clear Boundaries
Discuss and establish clear boundaries regarding the use of Life360. Let your kids know when you’ll check their location and under what circumstances. Respect their privacy and give them the autonomy to make choices within agreed-upon limits.
2. Use Location Sharing Responsibly
Life360 provides various features beyond just location sharing. Leverage these features responsibly – Place Alerts for school check-ins, set up Crash Detection notifications, Individual Driver Reports for teens, SOS Alerts for emergencies, and so much more.
3. Communicate Openly
Regularly communicate with your kids about the purpose of using Life360 when they ask. Reiterate that it is a tool for safety and connection rather than a means of control. Encourage them to share their locations with you voluntarily, fostering a sense of trust and compromise.
For many parents, keeping track of their teens’ driving habits is just a way to show how much they care, and Gaines certainly loves her children — Drake, 19, Ella, 18, Duke, 16, Emmie, 15, and Crew, 6 — who she shares with husband Chip.
READ MORE: CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES: ‘FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD’
“They’re just turning into these wonderful human beings. My favorite thing is seeing them hanging out in a restaurant together as friends,” she said. “Because when they were younger, I was always monitoring their fights, and now they’re dear friends, which is so cool.”
“Knowing that [the older kids] will be gone in the next few years, I’ve made a conscious decision to create micro-moments, to feel in the now with our family, just be really more intentional with our time together,” she explained. “And hopefully, try and slow it all down a bit!”
READ MORE: JOANNA GAINES WANTS YOU TO ENJOY EVERY MOMENT WITH YOUR GROWING KIDS — HERE’S WHY
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