I was more of a free-range parent when my kids were little. Now that one is old enough to drive, I track him.

The first time my son drove both of his siblings to school, I was glad I could track them on an app.

Courtesy of Kathy Larson

• I'm not a helicopter parent, but I did download an app to track my son once he got his license.
• The apps provide peace of mind for me as my son gains independence.
• My son and his friends seem to view location tracking apps as a normal part of modern parenting.

The day my son got his license, I downloaded an app to track him.

I...