Hi, thanks for getting in touch with your question.

A natural concern

You’re wondering whether you should track your teen’s location through their phone. It’s completely understandable to feel worried—especially during the summer when they’re out with a new group of friends. They’ve just finished first year, which is a big transition from the primary school years when everything felt more familiar and within your control. Being able to track their device does have advantages, particularly in terms of safety and peace of mind.

The importance of independence

However, the teenage years are an important developmental stage. Young people typically start seeking more independence from their parents and place greater importance on their social lives and peer relationships. This is a completely normal part of growing up. If a teen feels they are being constantly monitored or not trusted, it can impact their sense of autonomy and strain your relationship with them.

Set clear expectations

It can be helpful to establish clear, age-appropriate expectations around behaviour—just like you might already do with things like household rules, screen time, or bedtimes. You could start by discussing boundaries around being out with friends, such as curfews or guidelines about where they can go (for example, staying within a particular area). At the same time, it might be a good idea to raise the topic of location tracking and see how they feel about it.

Open a conversation

Have you had a chance to ask your teen how they feel about all this? Opening up a conversation where you both share your perspectives can build trust and lead to a compromise. If they understand that your interest in tracking is coming from a place of care—not control—they might be more open to finding a middle ground. And by listening to them, you help them feel respected and heard.

Finding a balance

This can be a tricky issue to navigate, but open and honest discussion is always a good approach. Even if you don’t reach a perfect solution right away, both of you will better understand where the other is coming from—and that’s an important step forward.

Wishing you the best of luck as your teen moves into this exciting new stage of life.

Take care,

Robyn