Microchipping your Kids?

[di marco]

i saw something on the tv yesterday when i was flicking channels about new technology to help keep track of your children. they were showing how you could get different sorts of tracking devices to keep your child safe and how they worked, and it even went as far as saying that there was an idea going round that you could have a microchip (like the ones used on pets) inserted into your childs arm. so i was wondering what everyone on here thought, especially parents and those members under 16 cos you wouldnt be able to have the chip removed til you were 16! so what do you all think, would it increase child safety, or is it going too far? and would you ever think about having a microchip inserted into your child or use any other tracking device?

[Chloe O'brien]

Although it seems bizarre and no doubt against human rights for a parent to have their children microchipped. In today's society were children are not safe anywhere and with the recent disapearnce of Maddie McCann. It's wonder that someone has thought of this idea. I don't know if I would go to the extreme of having my child implanted with a chip but then whats to say that off all the children who have been abducted over the last 20 years wouldn't have been found quicker and still alive if they had the chip.

[Kim]

I certainly wouldn't be happy if my parents microchipped me. If children have a microchip until 16, I'm not so sure how they'd cope without it, lacking any independence when they do get the chip taken away, and thinking that their parents will always come to their rescue.

Also, what about those with phobias of injections and things? Having a big phobia of needles and stuff like that myself, I wouldn't have anything done unless it was vital. I think it's fair enough on children who are staying out too late and things, as they are choosing to ignore their parents and stay out late.

[Siobhan]

I love my kids and would be totally devestated if anything happened to them but I don't think I would ever go as far as having a microchip implanted until they were 16. Where is their independence??? they could do anything without you known.. it is bad enough that they have mobiles where you can contact them and vice versa but children need to be children and do things they don't want their parents to know about (the old "I am sleeping at Sarah's" when you know they are sneaking out somewhere else)... it is what some kids do and let them grow up how they want and not always be watched 24/7

[Katy]

Its like treating them the same as a fliping dog or cat. It's not right, you cant microchip a child, theres no responsability for them when growing up. There is enough te4chnology in the world today for parents to be able to know what there child is doing, mobile phones text messages picture messages even, a chip seems a bit too far fetched for me.

[Trinity]

Although I think that this would contravine human rights and would probably never be allowed - I can understand that it would actually allow some children more freedom.

The sort of paranoid parents who would do this are the same ones who never let their kids out of the door without adult supervision.

[Abigail]

Just because you know where your child is doesn't mean you know that they are doing and it doesn't make them safer. They could be down the park drinking, taking drugs and having underage sex. What difference does a chip make if it doesn't tell you what they're doing?

Its a pointless exercise, if kids really don't want one then should parents have the right to force one into their arm? It shows that parents don't have enough trust and respect for their child to let them have some independence.