Sara Cox's non-negotiable rule with 3 kids her mother never used

The BBC Radio 2 broadcaster is set to leave her family home with three children to embark upon a trek through County Durham for Children in Need

Sara Cox on 'This Morning' with arms crossed in white shirt

Katie DalyLifestyle Writer

Updated: November 14, 2025Nov 14, 2025, 5:42 PM GMT

Sara's parenting rule

Find My Friends is a feature that allows you to share your exact location with family and friends and see theirs on a map. "I just do the usual Apple one. You can see where the kids are," Sara told Jessie and Lennie before adding that she was glad her own mother, Jackie Cox, didn't have access to the feature when she was growing up, as Find My Friends wasn't introduced until 2011.

Two woman on vacation use their smart phone, following a map application to their destination. — Parents can track their children using an iPhone

"My mum would have been like 'Why is Sara on her way to Blackpool?'" the Bolton native, who has hosted Radio 2's drivetime show since January 2019, admitted. "I went to Blackpool when I really wasn't supposed to be. I'd get a lift with some random lads in their XR2s [Ford Fiesta cars]."

A clever parenting hack

Sara Cox is among many mothers who use this feature for safety reasons, so they are able to see where their children are without having to message or call them to find out. In fact, Sophie Hamilton, HELLO!'s Deputy Features Editor and resident parenting expert, is a fan. "My children are aged 12 and 14. I use the location feature on the Family Link app, which shows me where my children are with a timestamp. It's great for helping me know their whereabouts as they travel to and from school and helps keep them safe," she has said. "The app also lets me control their screen time on their phone, and I like that everything is in one place."

DO: Have an open and honest conversation with your child about why you are using the app.
DON'T: Use it as a substitute for teaching real-world safety skills.
DO: Use it for peace of mind during specific situations (like traveling to/from school, as Sophie Hamilton mentioned, or at a festival).
DON'T: Use it to "catch them out" or micromanage their social lives, as this can destroy trust.

What does an expert say?

Dr Sasha Hall, a HCPC-registered senior education and child psychologist, tells us: "Find My Friends can be a really positive tool for families. It can give parents a sense of reassurance and help to reduce anxiety when their child is out, as they know where their child is and can locate them quickly if something goes wrong.

"The key is that it is used openly and with the child’s knowledge, as part of a mutual agreement rather than a secret form of monitoring. This helps to maintain trust and supports a healthy, open relationship between parent and child. It is also important that the use of tracking apps does not replace conversations about safety, responsibility, and how to make good decisions when out and about. These discussions are an essential part of helping children develop confidence and independence."

What has Sara Cox said about her children?

Sara shares her daughter, Lola, with her ex-husband, DJ Jon Carter, whom she split from in 2006, and her two youngest with her husband Ben Cyzer, whom she wed in 2013. She keeps her children out of the spotlight; however, she has spoken occasionally about raising them through the teen years.

Sara Cox and daughter Lola on red carpet — Sara Cox's daughter Lola is now 21 - hasn't she grown!

Speaking to Good Housekeeping in March 2025, the star admitted: "When they're toddlers, they're really cute, of course, but there's also a lot of brain-numbing activity – the routines, the school runs, remembering the school bags, the PE kits… You don't have to worry about all that so much when you have an older teenager." She added: "They're good company, too – it’s too easy to say they're just a handful. They have their own thoughts and opinions."