True Stories: How Findmykids Helps Parents Keep Kids Safe and Close

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. You’re at the store on a busy Saturday morning, you turn to take an item from the shelf, look back, and your child has disappeared. This is panic like no other. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases, kids are found wandering a nearby aisle, but—as we all know—things can take a much more tragic turn.

If you need to know where your child is, and fast, there is a solution. The Findmykids app is a trusted tool used by millions of parents that can help parents locate their kids when they need to. We asked real families to share how Findmykids made a difference in their lives. These are their stories.

Real Life Stories from Findmykids Users

A Potentially Life Saving App

Location feature | Findmykids app

For mom Lili, there’s no doubt that the Findmykids app can save lives. When her 11-year-old son and his 10-year-old friend hadn’t returned by dark after spending the afternoon playing outside in the neighborhood, she started to worry. After all, her child could always be relied on to be home on time. Sensing that something serious had happened, and getting no answer when she called his phone, Lili checked the Findmykids app, which showed the boys were in a wooded area near a new housing development.

Increasingly panicked, Lili rushed to the area shown on the app, frantically screaming the boys’ names, but was met with just the echo of her own voice. She suddenly remembered that Findmykids has a Hear Surroundings option. Quickly purchasing and enabling this option, she was able to listen to the surroundings of her child’s phone and heard the sound of passing traffic. This was a game-changer, allowing Lili to figure out that the kids were in part of the woods near the highway. Approaching the area, she heard the children crying for help and found them with their legs trapped beneath a collapsed sandpile. They’d been playing on the pile—part of the new housing development—when it had collapsed, and it was immediately obvious to Lili that, if she hadn’t located them quickly, the situation would have been dire.

“Without Findmykids, I never would have found them lost in the woods — this app literally saved their lives.”

For Lili, it’s clear. In her own words, “thanks to the Findmykids app, we were able to find the kids and get them home safely.” Without the app’s tools and features, the outcome of this story could have been a much less happy one.

Stranger danger is another risk that plays on parents’ minds, and rightly so. Although the majority of child abductions are carried out by an individual known to the child, stranger abductions still account for around 1,400 abduction cases in the US every year.

Swift response is key, and this is where the Findmykids app comes in, as Amanda Evans discovered recently when her son was approached by a strange man while waiting for the school bus. Thinking quickly, her child activated the Sound Around feature on the app, immediately alerting his mom to the fact that he might be in serious trouble.

“My son hit the panic button instantly—the stranger ran off as soon as he knew we were nearby.”

As she dashed to the scene, Amanda’s son yelled at the stranger that he’d used his phone to send an alert and that a parent was on the way, and the man immediately fled. Amanda shares Lili’s sentiments: “The app was a lifesaver.”

Emergencies can come in many forms. Crystal’s high-school-age daughter has struggled with mental health issues for a while and, prior to the start of the current school year, had been hospitalized three times in the last nine months. Crystal was devastated to discover that her daughter had been self-harming in the school bathrooms this year and had expressed an intention to end her own life. Due to her high-risk status, school staff were on alert should Crystal’s daughter not show up for lessons, and she wasn’t allowed to leave class unsupervised. One day in September, Crystal got the call from the school dean she’d dreaded: her child hadn’t arrived for classes and couldn’t be found.

“When my daughter went missing, seeing her exact location gave me hope and helped me find her fast.”

While other GPS apps could only show her daughter’s location as generally on the school grounds, when Crystal opened Findmykids, she was able to pinpoint exactly where her child was, and inform the dean. During this time, Crystal also used the app’s Alert Signal several times to help disrupt her daughter’s thoughts and let her know she was coming—crucially, the signal sounds even if the phone is on silent mode. Although her child was subsequently hospitalized again, Crystal believes that the situation could have ended up much worse if the app hadn’t allowed her to locate her daughter, fast.

Read more about the app: Findmykids GPS Child Tracking App: Features & Benefits.

Making Life Easier for Kids and Parents

Sound Around feature | Findmykids app

But the app isn’t just for use in emergencies. It’s a great practical tool to make everyday life easier, too. Joanne Pitts finds it invaluable in helping make her autistic daughter’s journey to and from school stress-free. For Joanne’s child, getting on a noisy, full bus is an issue, so she’ll often wait for a quieter one to come along rather than boarding her regular one. As is typical with those on the autism spectrum, change is a challenge, and Joanne knew that her daughter struggled with figuring out when to get off the new bus.

“With Findmykids, I always know when to tell my daughter to get off the bus — now we both feel calm.”

Findmykids has come to the rescue. Joanne uses the app to see exactly where her child is on her journey, so she can tell her exactly when to get off the bus, which has “saved us both a lot of panic and stress!” If you’re a parent looking to help your kids navigate day-to-day life, download the Findmykids app for free to see how it can help in a wide range of situations.

Talking about bus trips, Shaniqua remembers how, recently, the Findmykids app saved the day when her 8-year-old son, Cameron, fell asleep on the bus and woke up in a panic, not knowing where he was. Too shy to approach the bus driver, Cameron didn’t know what to do—but luckily, his mom did! While speaking to him on the phone, Shaniqua opened the Findmykids app and was able to quickly and easily track her son to discover exactly where he was.

“My son was scared and didn’t know where to go, but with the app’s help, I found him quickly at the bus stop.”

Using the app, Shaniqua was able to follow the bus’s journey and direct her son to get off at a stop where she would be waiting for him in the car. In Shaniqua’s own words: “I am no tech savvy mom whatsoever, and my son doesn’t exactly have the most fancy phone either, but with quick thinking and this app, I was saved.” And as an added bonus? Her son has learned the importance of making sure his phone is charged at the beginning of every day!

Providing Extra Support

SOS Alert feature | Findmykids app

Parents who have children with autism know that, often, these kids have problems with communication. Both of Leeann’s sons have the condition and, having moved home in the wake of a divorce, Leeann was distressed to learn that her eldest, Brandon, was being bullied. One day, on the way home, a group of kids set on Brandon and beat him to the ground. Thankfully, he had the Findmykids app installed on his phone and pressed the SOS button, meaning that mom Leeann received an alert and was able to get to him within minutes. Given that Brandon finds it difficult to verbalize his needs, the ability to simply press a button, without saying a word, was vital, and Leeann is happy knowing that it’s so easy for him to summon help.

“He struggles to explain things, but the SOS button lets him call for help in seconds—it’s priceless.”

Alana’s son is autistic, too, and she only realized just how invaluable the Findmykids app could be when, on his first day of school in a new state, he found himself on the wrong bus, a storm warning was issued, and, to top everything off, the school announced it would be closing for the day. After a panicked time seeking and finally finding him, Alana headed straight to the store where she purchased a phone for her son and then downloaded the Findmykids app to avoid anything similar happening again.

“Losing my son in a new city was terrifying, but now I have control and peace of mind thanks to Findmykids.”

Allowing your child to leave the house on their own, or with friends, is a major milestone for most parents, and one which has them biting their nails in nervousness until their kid arrives home safe and sound. For many users, this is where the Findmykids app truly excels.

LisaGriggs was wary about letting her 10-year-old son leave the house without an adult until she found the app. It allowed her to give her son the freedom he wanted, without sacrificing her peace of mind.

After talking him through the app’s various tools and features, Lisa’s child started enjoying spending time out of the house with his buddies, and she was delighted with how well it worked. However, Lisa was especially relieved she’d installed the app when, one day, her son was out, the Findmykids alert sounded on her phone. Via the app, she was able to see exactly where the group of kids was and hurried to meet them. Safely at home, the story came out. The boys had been approached by several older teens with bandanas covering their faces, who proceeded to follow them, scaring the boys badly.

“The app gave me the freedom to let my son roam and the confidence that I can always find him.”

Lisa’s son was the only one in the group who had the app installed on their phone, and so also the only one who was able to summon help quickly. She is so impressed with the app and its safety tools that she’ll “be doing exactly the same for our daughter when she is old enough” and is ready to leave the house on her own.

For mom Kelly, too, Findmykids has been invaluable. Before downloading the app, she was reluctant to let her 12-year-old leave the house on her own, fearing for her safety. A day came, however, when Kelly realized the extent to which the app safeguarded her daughter. Becoming worried when her child didn’t return home, panic set in when several phone calls went unanswered. Using the app to pinpoint her daughter’s exact location, Kelly and her husband headed to the spot near the canal, where they found their child and her friend hiding. A group of older kids was threatening one of their other friends, saying they’d push him into the canal.

“I found out exactly where my daughter was and got her out of danger—without Findmykids, I might have lost her.”

Kelly phoned the police while her husband drove off the older boys. Having been fearful that the group would steal their phones, Kelly’s daughter and her friend had put their phones on silent, which is why they hadn’t been able to pick up her earlier calls. For Kelly, the relief at finding her child was overwhelming: “Thanks to Findmykids, I was able to pinpoint where she was and get her and her friends out of danger.” For parents wanting to track their kids and find them quickly, this app is the solution.

Peace of Mind

Loud Signal feature | Findmykids app

For some parents, letting their children leave the house on their own, or with friends, can be even more difficult. Take Olivia, whose son was attacked by a pair of dogs a couple of years ago. Cradling him in her arms to protect him, Olivia took the brunt of the attack and was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and a tendency to over-vigilance. Both entirely understandable. Keen to give her child more freedom and independence, Olivia credits the Findmykids app with helping her work up the courage to allow her now-fourteen-year-old to leave the house without her. The ability to check up on him regularly via the app means Olivia doesn’t feel compelled to phone him every few minutes, giving her assurance he’s not in danger.

“Findmykids helped me stop calling my son every five minutes—now I’m calm knowing I can check on him anytime.”

Laura, too, has extra reason to worry. Her daughter suffers from epilepsy, and there are no warning signs that an attack is about to strike. With the Findmykids app, however, Laura can locate her child and listen in if she’s not answering her phone. It also means she and her partner can track their daughter on her way to and from school to make sure a seizure doesn’t occur en route. The app also proved to be helpful when Laura’s daughter was getting bullied, enabling her to listen in on what was going on and report the incidents back to the school.

“This app is my safety net in case of a seizure—I can even listen in if my daughter can’t answer.”

Keeping Loved Ones Safe

Real-time notifications feature | Findmykids app

Findmykids isn’t just a useful tool for parents—many people are downloading the app to help keep their elderly loved ones safe, too. Beth Parton uses the Findmykids app to help safeguard both her 11-year-old daughter and her elderly mother, who has many health issues and frequent bouts of forgetfulness.

While, mostly, the app is great for locating her mom’s phone when she can’t find it, Beth recently had an additional reason to be grateful for downloading it. Trying to call her mom to find out how her doctor’s appointment went, Beth became increasingly alarmed when she couldn’t get an answer. Her mind began to race. What if her mom had received bad news? Where could she be? Checking the Findmykids app, Beth became more concerned still to discover her mother’s phone battery was down to just 3%, and was located at a local hospital. Jumping into the car, Beth headed to the location, fearing the worst. Thankfully, she found her mom in the hospital’s cafeteria, where she’d gone to meet a friend for a chat over a cup of tea.

“When Mom went missing in the hospital, Findmykids helped me find her quickly, avoiding panic and worry.”

Without the app, Beth has no doubt that she’d have been in for a panicked afternoon and a prolonged hunt around town for her parent.

Beth is far from alone. When Jacqui’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, keeping him independent for as long as possible was important for them both. Jacqui fondly recalls how he used to love walking their neighbor’s dog, strolling the fields near their village for hours at a time. However, as his illness progressed, Jacqui began to worry when her husband was out for more than an hour, fearing that he’d become lost or confused. This presented a real challenge, as, while Jacqui wanted to be assured that her husband was safe, she didn’t want to curtail his freedom.

A friend came up with the solution, recommending the Findmykids app. For Jacqui, the app provided huge relief; if she noticed, for example, that her husband had been in the same location for some time, she could go check on him to ensure all was well. The Sound Around feature was equally useful, allowing Jacqui to hear what was happening around her husband if she was concerned he’d suffered a mishap. Although her husband died last year, Jacqui reflects how she’ll “always be grateful for that extra bit of freedom and independence Findmykids gave him.”

“The app helped keep my husband independent and gave me peace of mind that he’s safe.”

When Donna’s husband was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, he began to wander off, sometimes, something which understandably caused Donna a lot of anxiety. However, realizing that he always took his phone with him, Donna had the idea of installing the Findmykids app on her husband’s device so she could see where he was when out and about. The Sound Around feature, again, proved to be exceptionally useful, especially when, one night, noticing that he’d wandered far from home, Donna used the feature and discovered her husband was in the back of an ambulance. “I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I could hear what was happening, because if I asked him, he couldn’t remember,” says Donna, recalling how she became aware of what was going on thanks to the app. The Findmykids app not only gave her peace of mind but enabled her to feel closer to her husband, even as his condition deteriorated.

“Hearing sounds around his phone saved me from anxiety—I knew what was happening even when he couldn’t explain.”

For Annabel, too, the Findmykids app is great for locating various members of the family, including her husband, who is a van driver. Even if she isn’t able to speak to him on the phone, the app allows her to easily see his location and listen to his surroundings, which puts her mind at rest. Sue also uses the app to keep an eye on the movements of her husband, who has a brain tumor. She finds it especially useful when her husband is out with their daughter, saying, “It has enabled me to feel more confident leaving them together and go back to work.”

Finding AWOL Phones

It’s not just members of the family that the app can help locate—it’s also an effective way to discover and rescue AWOL phones! Andrew has found Findmykids to be a great way to help his son get where he needs to go, and it has even prevented the loss of his child’s phone on not one but two occasions. One of these incidents involved his child’s phone being left on a train heading to Birmingham. Thanks to the app, Andrew was able to locate the missing device almost down to the carriage and, by contacting the conductor, ensure the phone safely made the return journey back into his son’s custody. It’s worth noting that 60% of lost phones are misplaced, rather than stolen, making the Findmykids app an especially handy tool!

Why Findmykids Works for So Many Families

App Usage Statistics | Findmykids app

As these user stories show, Findmykids is full of features designed to help keep kids safe when they’re out of the home. For parents like Lili and Kelly, the real-time location tracking played a vital role in helping them find their children and get them to safety, while for Joanne, it helps her autistic daughter navigate bus routes stress- and panic-free.

The app’s safe zones and alert tools provide an additional layer of security, allowing parents to set safe locations (such as school or grandma’s house). When their child arrives at one of these areas, a notification is sent, and should they stray out of these zones, parents receive an alert so they can take swift action to ensure their child is okay. Meanwhile, the Findmykids’ emergency sound alerts proved crucial to Lisa, who was able to spring into action quickly to find her son and get him home to safety after he and his friends felt threatened by a group of older boys.

There are many other reasons that so many families are turning to the Findmykids app. It provides location history, so you can see exactly where your child has been or the route they’ve taken to school, for example. Plus, the popular Sound Around feature allows parents to listen in on their kids’ surroundings. This proved to be, potentially, a lifesaver for Amanda’s son when he and his friends were approached by a stranger at a bus stop, and allowed Lili to locate her son when he became trapped under a collapsed sandpit in the woods.

Parents concerned about their children’s online activity, too, are finding the app to be a vital tool, allowing them to monitor and limit screentime, and even block certain apps entirely. Gemma, who discovered that her 12-year-old daughter was messaging and sending explicit images of herself to older men online, used it to track which app her child was using to do this. Ultimately, this resulted in Gemma finding out that one of these older men was planning to meet Gemma straight after school, so she could take steps to prevent this from happening. The Findmykids app also allows parents to block unwanted calls on their child’s phone, and to call their child even when their phone is on silent mode.

Related: Findmykids Receives Prestigious kidSAFE+COPPA Certification.

How to Start Using Findmykids

Getting set up with the Findmykids app is refreshingly easy! Just follow the simple guide below to get started:

1. Download the Findmykids app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. You will be given a unique code to identify your child’s phone.
3. Install Pingo on your child’s phone.
4. Enter the code you were previously given into your child’s phone.
5. Create your child’s account by entering their name and adding a photo (this information is only visible to you).

Once the app is installed, you can set up safe zones. To do this:

1. Open the Findmykids app on your smartphone and navigate to the Safe Zones section.
2. Select the location to be defined as a safe zone (such as the local park or your child’s school) and adjust the boundary radius as required.
3. Set your preferred notification settings so you will receive alerts when your child enters or leaves a safe zone.
4. For added safety, you can customize the zones as needed based on your child’s daily routine.

It’s Not Just an App. It’s Peace of Mind

Parents around the world are turning to the Findmykids app to help safeguard their kids, and it’s no surprise why. With its arsenal of tools designed to keep kids safe when they’re out of the house, the app gives parents the peace of mind they need as their children begin to spread their wings. You can’t always be next to your child. But you can always be there for them—with the right tools.

Download Findmykids now to get started!