Back in the day my parents would send my sister and I out to play on a Saturday, with instructions we were not allowed to come back home until it got dark, living in the country had it’s benefits. With all of the horrors dramatized 24/7 on the news, many parents, including myself have become “Helicopter Parents” meaning we hover over our children and don’t give them the freedoms that we enjoyed as kids. I’m trying to learn not to hover some much and let me kids fly on their own, I think kids need the playtime and socialization without Mom and Dad around.
Many parents give their kids cellphones to keep track while they are roaming the neighborhood, having been in the wireless business for many years I can tell you this rarely works out very well, and will always cost more than you expect when you sign up for the service.
Today I was flipping through the new Disney Family Magazine when I found an ad for 5Star Urgent Response. 5Star is a wireless emergency service that is provided by Great Call, the same people that sell the Jitterbug phones. It’s available online, at Sears and Walmart.
The 5Star Emergency Responder is a keychain size transmitter that works to give kids some freedom while at the same time give parents peace of mind. If the kid is lost, afraid or feels threatened with one click of a button the responder connects to a Certified Response Agent. They will identify your child and their location, can conference in family or friends, help dispatch 9-1-1 emergency service, access a nurse, or provide any additional assistance, if needed. In a true emergency the kids can also hold down the button and bypass the Response Agent and connect directly to 911.
The responder can also be tracked online, so if you send your kids out to play, or if they are lucky enough to walk or bike to school, you can check in on them at anytime. The responders cost $49.99, and then $14.95 per month…with no contract required…that’s around 50 cents per day to give your kids some extra security and you some peace of mind. The 5Star service is also available as an iPhone app, and as an add on to Jitterbug service. Feel safe and secure 24/7 with the Jitterbug 5Star Urgent Response App.
