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A great advantage of giving a child a smart watch is that it prevents parents from having to buy a smartphone while they provide a direct line to their son. This can be especially useful for parents who handle collection and fall logistics or depend on other caregivers for transport. Younger children, in particular, can benefit from avoiding the distractions that come with a phone. The fact that a clock is tied to your wrist is also an advantage, considering how many bottles of water and sweatshirts end in the losses and are regularly. It can also be a great motivator for children who need an additional impulse to stay active, offering a gamified experience through steps monitoring and physical conditioning challenges.
The term “smart watch” is used very freely when it comes to children. A quick search for Google or Amazon will generate a wide range of results, from a $ 25 digital clock with some games to an Apple Watch of $ 300 that can track vital and call 911 in an emergency. For this guide, we are focusing mainly on smart watches that help parents stay connected to their children, instead of Toylike watches designed for entertainment or dedicated exercises bands that do not have bidirectional communication. The latter are much simpler in terms of functionality and tend to be less expensive, which makes the decision process easier than choosing between GPS smart watches in characteristics that require greater participation of parents and even a separate cell plan.
Kids Smartwatch vs. regular smart watch
Although both can share many of the same functions, smart watches for children generally have less characteristics than complete smart watches designed for adults. It is possible that a child does not need an electrocardiogram function, for example, but GPS monitoring and access to emergency contacts are essential. Children’s watches also come with built -in railings that parents can customize from a complementary application on their phones.
Smart clocks for children are also designed with their needs and interests in mind. Physically, they tend to be larger, more colorful and have larger buttons and screens for easier navigation. Even the traditional functions of smart watches such as the follow -up of the physical condition are adapted for children, with more attainable objectives and activity options that are aligned with the lifestyle of a child, which makes the follow -up of the exercise more attractive.
The monitoring of GPS in real time and bidirectional communication with parents are key characteristics that we are looking for in a smart watch for children.
Things to consider
Age range
This is one of the most important factors to choose a smart watch, since it determines the type of characteristics that your child will need. Watches designed for children 5 years or less generally have physical buttons, simple icons and minimal screens to navigate, which makes them easy to use without requiring complex reading or sliding. This ensures that children cannot accidentally send text message to a stranger or call 911 while trying to play Snake. An example of a simple device with limited functionality is GABB Watch 3E.
Older children can benefit from more advanced characteristics, such as bidirectional calls, text messages, more robust exercises and even mobile payments. Options such as Apple Watch SE O Fitbit Ace provide more functionality while offering parents’ controls to manage and monitor use.
GPS
If you are looking to track your child with precision and in real time, we recommend an smart watch for children with GPS. For me it is a non -negotiable feature when buying a clock for children. Some popular brands, such as Vtech and Garmin, offer versions that are not GPS of their children, smart watches designed for entertainment or follow -up of physical condition. So be sure that the model you are considering specifically call GPS monitoring.
The monitoring of the real -time location is particularly useful if you want to monitor your child’s walk from school. It also allows you to configure geofencing alerts, which notifies if your child deviates beyond an approved route or location. Just keep in mind that GPS monitoring generally requires a cellular connection and comes with an additional monthly rate of its wireless supplier.
Parents can use geofencing to obtain an alert when their child leaves a designated location.
Connectivity
Cellular service is essential, not only for GPS monitoring but also to make calls and text messages to contacts and emergency services. You must decide whether the clock allows you to add the monthly rate to your existing telephone plan or if you need to go with another operator completely. This could rule out specific operator devices such as Gizmo Watch 3That is exclusive to Verizon.
Then there are watches such as the Gabb Watch 3E, which are completely operator agnostics and offer their own cell plans that you can buy monthly, or under a one or two years.
Budget
Be sure to take into account all extras in your budget, including the monthly service rate and any activation rate. You can expect to pay between $ 100 and $ 300 for the device itself, plus $ 10 to $ 20 per month for cell service.
If you have an adjusted budget and everything you really need of a smart watch for children is GPS monitoring, consider a dedicated tracker like Apple’s Airtag. With around $ 25, it offers a one -year battery life, and you can buy an accessory for your child to use it on your wrist. However, Airtag only works for the monitoring of the location if there is a nearby iPhone or finding my device and does not replace the monitoring of the traditional GPS. Apple designed the AIRTAG to track objectsNo people, so it has a series of alerts and systems to avoid unwanted monitoring.
The Fitbit Ace Lte is a great alternative for children.
Brands
A brand device is another consideration when you look at your budget. Although there are many cheap options for less known companies that can offer similar functionality, it is important to proceed with caution because they may not be so safe in terms of privacy for your child. These affordable devices can even present built -in cameras, which could present additional concerns if used badly.
A safer bet would be to continue with sets established such as Garmin, Apple, Fitbit or models that have been reviewed and examined by sources of good reputation, such as TickTalk, Bark Watch or Gabb Watch.
Entertainment
It is possible that your child gets excited to play games on your watch, but you may be less excited when your child is attached to the device at all hours. To avoid another screen time fight, we recommend opting for a clock with the least amount of “entertainment” characteristics as possible, especially when it comes to social networks.
If the clock has additional games or characteristics such as a built -in camera, make sure there are controls of parents who can limit the time of use, so they are not sending their child to school with a permanent distraction tied to their wrist. Although the novelty may disappear, expect your child not to play during school hours is not realistic. In fact, some schools really prohibit these devices for this same reason.
A Kaiju Golf game on Fitbit’s AS.
Screen protectors
Although most of these watches are designed with children in mind, not everyone has a built -in screen protector or a thick cover. It is worth investing in some kind of protection to increase the chances of a smart watch for children to survive childhood wear.
End
There is no unique solution for everyone when it comes to choosing an smart watch for your child, but you can significantly reduce your options by understanding what characteristics your needs meet. Ultimately, you must select an smart watch that provides the functionality that you, as a father, must be kept connected, while offering something that motivates your child. With the right watch, you can even delay the smartphone conversation for a few more years.
