Why do I always choose a smartwatch over a phone when it comes to my kids

I spent most of my children’s early years keeping them away from devices, but eventually the positives of connectivity began to outweigh the negatives. As they grow older, having a way to communicate gives them freedom and peace of mind.

SmartphonesHowever, it comes with a lot of baggage: distractions, endless group chats, and social drama. for me, Smart watches It’s the perfect compromise. They give kids a direct line to me without the investment (or distraction) of an entire phone, making them a perfect first step into this kind of technology.

Having a watch strapped to their wrist is a bonus too, considering how many water bottles and sweatshirts they end up losing and finding on a regular basis. It can also motivate them to stay active, providing a fun experience through step tracking and fitness challenges.

The term “smartwatch” is often used loosely when referring to children. A quick search on Google or Amazon will yield a wide range of results, from a $25 digital watch with a few games to a $250 watch. Apple watch It can track vitals and call 911 in emergency situations.

In this guide, we focus primarily on smartwatches that help parents stay in touch with their kids, rather than toy-like watches designed for entertainment or dedicated fitness bands that lack two-way communication. The latter are much simpler in function and tend to be less expensive, making the decision-making process much more straightforward than choosing between feature-rich GPS smartwatches that require greater parental involvement and even a separate cellular plan.

Smart watch for kids vs regular smart watch

Although they may both share many of the same functions, smartwatches for kids usually have fewer features than full-fledged smartwatches designed for adults. For example, a child may not need an EKG feature, but GPS tracking and access to emergency contacts is essential. Kids’ watches also come with built-in guardrails that parents can customize through a companion app on their phone.

Smartwatches for kids are also designed keeping their needs and interests in mind. Physically, these devices tend to be larger, more colorful, and feature larger buttons and displays for easier navigation. Even traditional smartwatch functions, like fitness tracking, are being adapted for kids, with more achievable goals and activity options that align with a child’s lifestyle, making exercise tracking more engaging.

Things to consider

Age group

This is one of the most important factors in choosing a smart watch, because it determines the type of features your child will need. Watches designed for children 5 and under typically have physical buttons, simple icons, and small screens to navigate, making them easy to use without the need for complicated reading or scrolling. This ensures that kids can’t accidentally text a stranger or call 911 while trying to play Snake. An example of a simple device with limited functionality is Gap Watch 3E.

Older children may benefit from more advanced features, such as two-way calling, text messaging, more robust fitness tracking, and even mobile payments. Options like Apple Watch C3 or Fitbit Ace Providing more functionality while continuing to offer parental controls to manage and monitor usage.

GPS

If you’re looking to track your child accurately and in real-time, we recommend a kids smartwatch with GPS. For me, it’s a non-negotiable feature when shopping for a kids watch. Some popular brands, like VTech and Garmin, offer non-GPS versions of their kids’ smartwatches designed for entertainment or fitness tracking. So make sure the model you’re considering specifically calls for GPS tracking.

Real-time location tracking is especially useful if you want to monitor your child’s walk from school to home. It also allows you to set up geolocation alerts, which notify you if your child strays from the approved route or location. Just keep in mind that GPS tracking typically requires a cellular connection and comes with an additional monthly fee from your wireless service provider.

Contact

Cellular service is essential, not only for GPS tracking but also for making calls and texting emergency contacts and services. You’ll need to decide if the watch lets you add the monthly fee to your existing phone plan or if you need to use another carrier entirely. This may exclude carrier-specific devices such as Gizmo 3 watchwhich is exclusive to Verizon.

Then there are watches like the Gabb Watch 3e, which are completely carrier-agnostic and offer their own cellular plans that you can purchase monthly, or on a one- or two-year contract.

budget

Make sure to factor all the extras into your budget, including monthly service fees and any activation fees. You can expect to pay between $100 and $300 for the device itself, plus an additional $10 to $20 per month for cellular service.

If you’re on a tight budget and all you really need from a kids smartwatch is GPS tracking, consider a dedicated tracker like Apple’s AirTag. Priced at about $25, it offers a year of battery life, and you can purchase an accessory to allow your child to wear it on their wrist. However, AirTag only works for location tracking if there is a nearby iPhone or Find My Device, and does not replace traditional GPS tracking. Designed by Apple AirTag to keep track of thingsNot people, so it has a number of alerts and systems to prevent unwanted tracking.

Trademarks

Branded device is another consideration when you’re looking at your budget. Although there are plenty of cheap options from lesser-known companies that may offer similar functionality, it is important to be careful as they may not be safe in terms of privacy for your child. These affordable devices may have built-in cameras, which could raise additional concerns if misused.

The safest bet is to stick with established brands like Garmin, Apple, or Fitbit, or models that have been reviewed and vetted by trusted sources, like TickTalk, Bark Watch, or Gabb Watch. Apple for example has a wide range of Parental controls and guardrails directed at children For all its devices, including the Apple Watch, which parents can manage remotely from their personal phones.

entertainment

Your child may be excited to play games on his watch, but you may not be thrilled when your child is glued to the device all the time. To avoid another struggle with screen time, we recommend choosing a watch with as few “entertainment” features as possible, especially when it comes to social media.

If the watch has games or additional features like a built-in camera, make sure there are parental controls that can limit usage time, so you don’t send your child to school with a constant distraction strapped to their wrist. Although this novelty may wear off, expecting your child not to play games during school hours is unrealistic. In fact, some schools ban these devices for this very reason.

Screen protectors

Although most of these watches are designed with kids in mind, not all of them have a built-in screen protector or thick case. It’s worth investing in some type of protection to increase the chances of your smartwatch surviving childhood wear.

Bottom line

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing a smartwatch for your child, but you can narrow down your options significantly by understanding which features meet your needs. Ultimately, you should choose a smartwatch that provides the functionality you, as a parent, need to stay connected, while also offering something that will motivate your child. With the right watch, you might even be able to put off the smartphone conversation for a few more years.