Back-to-school season is upon us. That means one thing for parents: that it’s time to replace everything. Suddenly, your kid's backpack is worn out, their lunchbox is missing, and their shoes don’t fit. Even if you don't care about trends, the pressure to upgrade them is real.
While it's odd for an Android blog to recommend kids' shoes for parents, technology has made anything possible these days. Find My Skechers is a new product with a hidden AirTag compartment for location tracking. Here's how it'll help you monitor your child stylishly.
Never lose sight of your child again
Moving from point A to point B with kids is hardly simple. Even a short walk or school run comes with worrying at different levels. They could wander off or worse. It’s completely normal to feel anxious about their safety as a parent, especially when they’re just starting to explore the world more independently.
But maybe you're not ready to buy them a phone, a tablet, or even a smartwatch. That’s fair. Not every parent operates the same way. The new pair of Find My Skechers shoes has been designed to make your job easier.
It's designed with a hidden compartment beneath the heel insole. There, you can place your own Apple AirTag or the identically sized Moto Tag, and it remains secure and unobtrusive. That means you need to buy it separately for the $29 retail price.
When you have the AirTag, connect it to your iPhone using the Find My app and even assign it a name. For example, “Toby's Shoes”. The app begins receiving location data from the AirTag whenever it's near an Apple device that’s part of the global Find My network. It could also be an iPad or MacBook. If the shoes are nearby but not visible, you can make the AirTag play a sound to help you locate them.
Conversely, if you are using a Moto Tag, open up your phone and connect the tracking device to the app.
They are machine-washable and come in a range of colors. You can also choose from several color options on the official website. The starting price is $52, but you’ll get a second pair for half the price in a limited-time discount. The 50% discount on the second pair automatically applies when you check out.
Related: How to track a phone for free using Google Maps
We demand more sizes and Android compatibility
Skechers’ shoes are available for kids from ages 1-10. However, you'll want to find an approach that feels reasonable. It’s one thing to enjoy peace of mind, but it’s a bit strange to hide a tracker in your child’s shoes, especially without having a conversation about it.
If you have a kid as old as eight or ten, they’re likely old enough to understand what an AirTag is. They deserve to know why it’s there, especially if you're going to be beeping it randomly. A toddler at age one is seldom out of arm’s reach. Yet, Apple's AirTags have been scrutinised for having batteries that are harmful to children.
That said, there’s potential for the shoe’s idea to expand beyond Apple’s ecosystem, and I'd love to see a version that integrates with Android’s now expanded Find My Device network and varieties of Bluetooth trackers. Eventually, if Skechers or similar brands extend this idea into larger sizes or even adaptive shoes for neurodivergent people, it would be a more practical solution.
