Mario Bautista
It’s natural for parents to want to stay connected with their kids, even (and sometimes, especially) when they are at school, but a cell phone can introduce kids to a level of internet connectivity they simply aren’t ready for. An excellent, sometimes safer alternative is a watch, and we tested 18 of the most popular options with our own families to find the best smartwatches for kids.
Our Favorite Kids’ Smartwatches
Should You Buy a Kids’ Smartwatch or a Phone?
Unfortunately, there’s not a good one-size-fits-all answer. Smartwatches aren’t right for every child, but according to Meryl Alper, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, smartwatch benefits include location tracking, emergency contact abilities, and of course, being able to communicate with your child when they’re away from you. Smartwatches can also allow them a chance to interact with family and friends, all without needing a phone.
“A watch has a smaller interface, so it’s harder to generate content or consume content,” Dr. Alper points out. “There’s a degree of content risk that is lowered.”
Your child still may not want or need a smartwatch, either: if their biggest priority is tracking their steps or monitoring their fitness levels, you can opt for an activity tracker that doesn’t have any internet connectivity at all.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a smartphone-readiness tool that families can use to help approach the conversation about introducing technology. And while the quiz is phone-specific, Megan Moreno, M.D., MSEd, MPH, vice chair of academic affairs in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin, says it can be adapted to help you decide if your child is ready for a smartwatch. The choice is highly dependent on your child’s maturity and their daily tech needs.
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Why We Like It
Hitting the sweet spot for kids who want more than a smartwatch toy but less than a high-tech Apple Watch, the Cosmo JrTrack 3 Kids Smart Watch is our favorite for kids ages 8 to 13. Featuring unlimited calling and texting to parent-approved contacts and parent-friendly features like GPS tracking, smart zone location boundaries, and SOS mode for emergencies, the Cosmo JrTrack 3 was a hit with our parent tester and his son.
Our parent tester appreciated the easy setup and the extensive parental controls allowing him to lock the watch down for full safety. He also liked that there were interchangeable bands and that the watch was pretty durable, even when being used by a younger child. Our kid tester, meanwhile, felt very cool using this smartwatch. He loved using the camera, sending voice and video messages, and texting with emojis. His dad reported that he learned how to use the interface quickly and felt like the watch was a walkie-talkie keeping him in communication with his family members throughout the day.
What Parents Say
“This device allows a child to be stylish and keep communication with their parant and even text. The battery life is great, and I love all the bands that were included.” — Mike, uncle of a 4-year-old
But Take Note
It’s a little big for younger kids; our 4-year-old tester’s wrist was somewhat too small for it, and he’ll need some time to grow into both the sizing and tech capabilities. Though it’s appropriate for younger kids, it might work better for a 7-year-old and up.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: $18/month
- Connectivity: Cosmo Mobile
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 24 hours
- Features: GPS tracking, emergency SOS, school mode, pedometer, water resistant, unlimited talk and text
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Why We Like It
The Apple Watch SE is the same smartwatch adults can use, so it has all the same functionality and convenience of other Apple products—something older kids will appreciate and more easily adapt to than younger kids. You have the option of getting a GPS-only version that works by being paired with a parent’s phone (and GPS tracking works even when they’re not near your phone or a Wi-Fi signal), or GPS + cellular watch that can call and text without a nearby phone or Wi-Fi. Our tester’s child loved how stylish and fashionable the watch looked on her wrist, and it was fairly easy for her use, too, whether it was for playing games, texting friends, or setting timers for homework.
Parental controls were easy to navigate once our parent tester acclimated to the Apple Family Sharing app, which allows you to control the apps your kid downloads, lets you share contacts with them (although you can also add unlimited approved contacts outside of Apple as well), and allows you to set up Apple Pay for individual members.
Once it was all set to go, our tester’s daughter loved using her watch, getting particularly excited about closing her “activity rings” (time spent moving, exercising, and standing). Her dad liked using it to see where she was at any given time.
What Parents Say
“I can see her location via her iMessage contact, and/or from the Find My app. It’s easy to see her location quickly as long as the device is charged and she’s wearing it.” — Jon, dad of a 10-year-old
But Take Note
Because it’s made for adults, it’s not as intuitive or simple for younger kids to use, and it doesn’t have a camera like many of the other kids’ watches do. Also, the version with cellular connectivity costs significantly more than the one made to sync with phones. Lastly, the battery life of this watch is very user-dependent, so if your child is actively using a lot of features on the watch, like games or music, it can drain the battery faster. For our tester, average use lasted a full day.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: Depends on provider (no cost for GPS-only devices)
- Connectivity: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 18 hours
- Features: Texting, calls, app compatible, crash and fall detection, emergency SOS, daily activity, workout app, heart rate monitor, Apple Pay, swim-proof, sleep tracker, medication app
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Why We Like It
If you’re anxious about taking the plunge and buying your child a smartwatch, the Gabb Watch 3 makes the transition feel less intimidating by offering so many parental control options. With the ability to approve all contacts, set precise geo-zones for close location tracking, and a parent-friendly app interface that makes blocking apps and putting your child’s phone in focus mode a total breeze, the Gabb Watch 3 is a great introduction to smartwatches for parents and kids alike.
In fact, our parent tester may have actually liked this watch a bit more than his son, who already has a smartphone and got bored quickly with the smartwatch features. But he appreciated being able to track his son’s location accurately and set clear boundaries for travel. Our parent tester also liked how intuitive the parental controls app was.
What Parents Say
“He’s able to send voice recordings that seem to come across fine and was able to use the voice-to-text bits as well, which were accurate for the types of messages he would send.” — Eric, dad of a 10-year-old
But Take Note
This watch only works with Gabb’s cellular plan, which has a monthly fee of $13-$18, higher than many others on this list. Our parent tester thought the watch could have more features for that price; and while the parental control app is great, there aren’t many other apps to download or features to use. The watch also needed to be charged every day.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: $13-18/month
- Connectivity: Gabb cellular plan
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 12-48 hours
- Features: Texting, calls, emergency SOS, GPS tracker, safe zones, focus and silent modes
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Why We Like It
If you’re looking for the basics, the Garmin Bounce offers voice and text messaging as well as preset messages kids can choose to send to their contacts, making communication easier than ever, no matter how accustomed your kids are to texting. With no internet capabilities, there’s no need to worry about your child accessing inappropriate content.
The Garmin Bounce has plenty to offer in other specs, though. It tracks activity, something that was highly motivating for our kid tester, and also passed the style test: Our kid tester said it looked “cool and smart,” and that it didn’t look like a kids’ watch (which was a good thing, in his opinion!). He was able to figure out how to use the interface quickly and easily, and the watch looked good as new after a month of testing.
We also appreciated the location boundary options; our parent tester was able to set boundaries for home, school, and both parents’ offices, and receive alerts from the watch when her son entered or exited a boundary. We found the battery still had 70% left after a full day, and—as is par for the course for Garmin products—the watch is waterproof up to 5 meters.
What Parents Say
“My son really enjoys the smartwatch and feels cool. He likes keeping track of his activity as he is interested in ‘getting more fit for soccer’—which is cute and gets him off the couch!” — Christine, mom of a 9-year-old
But Take Note
Although you have to pay for a subscription to Garmin’s LTE network, your communications are still limited. There’s no ability to make phone calls or send video messages with the Garmin Bounce.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: $10/month
- Connectivity: Garmin LTE plan only
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 2 days
- Features: Real-time location tracking, text messaging, two-way voice messaging, check-in reminders, live assistance, up to 20 contacts, sports and activity tracking, school mode, games, waterproof up to 5 meters
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Why We Like It
VTech is a brand synonymous with combining technology and kid-friendly features, and the VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX3 reminds us why. Some of the coolest features of this little kid-friendly option include being able to play movement games and two-player games like Tic-Tac-Toe with other DX3 watch wearers.
Unlike some of the other watches we tested, this one has a camera for photos and videos. Kids can add stickers and frames after practicing their selfie skills—which is what our 6-year-old tester liked doing with his watch most. As far as usefulness goes, kids can text via preset messages with other watch users (they need to be paired), but there’s no call feature or ability to communicate with other devices.
Parents can program the watch to emit reminders when it’s time for their child to do something, like feed the dog or do their homework. Battery life is also kid-friendly and can last about two full days without needing another charge.
But Take Note
Our parent tester thought it was a bit of a stretch to call this a smartwatch since the features are really pretty limited and her son got bored pretty quickly, but she also thought it would be an affordable and appealing option for children 4 and under. Users can only share preset messages with another paired DX3, and there’s no call feature or location tracking.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: None
- Connectivity: No network or Wi-Fi availability
- GPS tracking: No
- Battery life: 2-3 days
- Features: Dual cameras for photos and videos, watch light for camera flash or flashlight, games, school mode, custom clock faces, daily reminders
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Why We Like It
If your child is just getting used to the idea of a smartwatch, the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 is one with some cool “smart” features at an affordable starting price. Our parent tester thought this watch made a lot of sense if you’re already a Verizon user and want to communicate with children without giving them a phone.
Setup is simple, but unlike some of the other watches that allow you to set specific destinations or boundaries, this watch enables “zones,” which can be pretty broad, especially in the city or close quarters. The location tracking, similarly, wasn’t as precise as other watches, meaning you couldn’t pinpoint exactly where your child was within a given city block, and it often showed our 11-year-old tester as being across the street from where he actually was.
Our Gizmo kid tester liked the fun games and the ability to video chat, make calls, and take pictures. Users can type their own text messages instead of just sending voice memos, emojis, and preset texts.
What Parents Say
“It’s quite useful for school pickup. Also, I was away from him on a trip, and it was really nice to be able to call him directly instead of calling my husband to speak to him!” — Sabrina, mom of an 11-year-old
But Take Note
You’ll want to use this with an unlimited data plan because it does not connect to Wi-Fi, and those video messages add up. The durability is a little questionable; the watch face endured some scratches on the glass right out of the gate, but a screen protector prevented further damage. The charging port can also be a bit finicky—if the watch isn’t clean and isn’t lined up just so, you may find the battery’s still dead in the morning.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: Starts at $4.16/month
- Connectivity: Verizon Wireless
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 3-4 days
- Features: Camera, Bluetooth, GPS tracking, calls, video chat, text and voice messaging, games, parental monitoring, medical ID, step counter, weather forecast, 20 contacts
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Why We Like It
The precise location tracking on the Xplora XGO3 watch is very impressive—our parent tester was able to see real-time movement of her child with refreshed location timestamps, and the exact building address she was in was highlighted within the app. The location tracking is also automatically turned on upon watch activation (although our tester did not see a way to get alerts about location changes outside of preset zones).
With such a heavy focus on tracking, however, a few other features could stand to be improved. Our parent tester was frustrated that the watch only lets one parent be the primary “account” holder to see the child’s activity and communicate with them, forcing a second parent to be set up as just another contact. And though your child can engage in phone calls and text messages with the Xplora, you and any of their approved contacts will need to set up an Xplora account and use the app to communicate with them.
Our 8-year-old kid tester enjoyed the alarm clock, the ability to send photos, and the chance to earn “coins” for every 1,000 steps she took, which she could then spend on games and content in the kid-friendly Activity Platform.
But Take Note
Setup is difficult: The box only offers a QR code in the way of online-only instructions, and our tester faced a few challenges navigating the website and customer service, which seemed to be largely nonexistent. Finally, older kids may also get frustrated that they can only use prewritten texts instead of composing their own messages.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: Starts at $9.99/month
- Connectivity: 4G LTE via Xplora Connect
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: 72 hours
- Features: Voice calls, messages, camera, GPS and safety zone, SOS button, Wi-Fi, parental control, pedometer, waterproof, school mode, stopwatch, alarms and reminders
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Why We Like It
Editor’s Note: We are currently testing the new Fitbit Google Ace LTE and will update this story with our results shortly!
For simple activity tracking, the Fitbit Ace 3 makes staying active all day fun, with badges to earn and parent-approved fitness challenges your child can join. It connects via Bluetooth to Android and iOS devices, eliminating the need for a smartphone to track activity.
To up the fun factor, the Fitbit Ace 3 has an animated clock face and fitness challenges parents can opt into for their child (parents can also follow along with their stats). We found our child tester loved getting their steps in so much, they wound up racing around the yard at the end of the night.
After four days of wear, the battery only needed to be charged once, and according to the company, the watch can last an additional four days (eight total) if you don’t use the animated clock face. Plus, it’s waterproof up to 50 meters, so it’s swimming-friendly, too.
But Take Note
This is an activity tracker only, so you won’t get any smartwatch features like calling or texting, and the battery life has a wide range depending on how many features your child is regularly using.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: None
- Connectivity: No network or Wi-Fi availability
- GPS tracking: No
- Battery life: Up to 8 days
- Features: Wireless syncing to other devices, sleep tracking, bedtime alarms and reminders, swim-proof, incentives, timer and stopwatch
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Why We Like It
If your child is already obsessed with texting, the T-Mobile SyncUP Kids Watch gives them a fully functioning keyboard and the flexibility to compose their own messages, emojis included, rather than choosing from preset text messages. Our 8-year-old tester did find this watch a little on the younger-looking side, but it still had enough appealing features—like a camera, interchangeable colored bands, a voice-changing feature, and built-in games—to keep him wearing it.
We like that you can see messages from the watch in your phone’s regular messaging app, not just in a separate app the way many of these watches require. The screen and bands were both very kid-friendly and scratch- and wear-resistant, so your purchase is well-protected. The watch allows for GPS live location tracking and also lets grownups set boundaries the child can travel within, notifying the adult when the child has left the set area.
But Take Note
The battery drains quickly if you’re using all features, especially games and voice-changing, and we experienced spotty connectivity for location tracking. As well as this watch handles texting it was a little lacking in other types of connectivity. Calls were spotty and didn’t always go through, and our parent tester faced some frustration in not getting full access to her child’s location when he wore the watch, especially at school. In comparison to her older daughter’s iPhone with precise tracking, this watch did not deliver accurate tracking in all areas as promised.
The Details:
- Monthly cost: $10/month
- Connectivity: T-Mobile, Wi-Fi available
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: Up to 7 days
- Features: Talk and text with approved contacts, real-time location tracking, virtual boundary alerts, help and 911 button, long-lasting battery, tasks and reminders, school mode, camera, splash-friendly and water resistant, Bluetooth
Parents / Jhett Thompson
Other Notable Smartwatches for Kids
We also mostly liked these watches we tested, though some flaws meant they didn’t make our final list.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Our parent tester found this watch too bulky and complex for her child, and thought the parental controls were difficult to utilize and access.
- XPLORA X6 Play: Connectivity issues led to both tracking and message delays that didn’t leave us feeling confident in this watch choice.
- Angel Watch Series R: It has limited functions, such as poor video quality and issues with the charging cord, both of which bumped this watch down the list. But more importantly, the tracking function didn’t work and with Wi-Fi-only features, it won’t work at schools that don’t allow students to connect.
Our Testing Process
We researched many popular brands of smartwatches and talked to several experts before asking parents on our staff to test 18 watches at home with their kids. This list represents the best smartwatches we’ve tested so far, but we’ll keep on testing new models and updating this list with our findings.
We asked our parent testers to help their kids use their smartwatches at home for one month at first, and followed up with them three months later, taking note of the following attributes during the testing:
- Setup: Our parent testers rated the watch setup process, including establishing approved contacts and setting up geo-tracking.
- Connectivity: Testers noted how easy it was to send and receive text, voice, and video messages, including the clarity of the video and sound quality.
- Tracking: Our parent testers evaluated the parental controls, including how easy it was to track their child’s call or text histories and locations.
- Software: For watches with apps, testers rated how easy or difficult it was to set them up and navigate them, as well as how long it took their child to master the interface and type or voice-to-text chat on the watch.
- Durability: Our testers described how the watch looked after one month of use, including any noticeable wear and tear.
- Design: Testers asked their kids to describe how the watch felt to wear, as well as how easy the watch was to charge and navigate.
- Overall value: Using the current retail price, testers noted if they thought the watch was worth its cost, if they would recommend it to other parents, and how it compared to other products they tested.
Parents
Our Experts
Before selecting and testing any smartwatches for kids, we spoke to the following healthcare professionals to learn more about what to look for when choosing the right watch for your child and how you can help them learn to use their smartwatch safely.
- Megan Moreno, M.D., MSEd, MPH, professor and vice chair of academic affairs in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin
- Meryl Alper, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northeastern University
- Michael Dzwil, LCSW, advanced clinical outreach specialist for Newport Healthcare
Factors to Consider When Buying a Smartwatch
In addition to evaluating your own child’s readiness and needs, there are some additional things to consider when choosing the best smartwatch for your child. A lot of it depends on your family’s needs, your kid’s age, and yours and their comfort with technology.
- Connectivity and Compatibility: You’ll want to know whether the watch will work in your existing phone plan or a separate plan, without needing to connect to Wi-F. Most kids’ smartwatches also work by connecting with a parent’s phone, so check that it’s compatible with your own device—and compatible with your child’s lifestyle, too, avoiding watches that will get in the way of their sports or activities.
- Ease of Use: It’s important that any watch you choose be fairly easy to operate for both you and your child. Make sure your child knows how to use the features you want them to use, says Dr. Alper, like making emergency calls. Also make sure you know how to use any additional features you want enabled, such as payment apps and school mode.
- Parental Controls: Yes, it’s your child’s watch, but you’re still responsible for limiting their access to inappropriate content and making sure they’re staying safe. Some of the most helpful parental controls Dr. Alper recommends are location tracking and history, privacy settings, the ability to turn the watch off except for emergency calls at specific times (like during school hours), approval for all downloadable content, and access to your child’s text message history.
- GPS Tracking: Most smartwatches for kids offer some degree of GPS tracking. If you also want the ability to see where your child has been, look for a watch with stored history as well, and be sure to know how long the history is stored.
- Kid-Friendly Features: Games, activities, and a camera may be fun for kids, but they’re probably not the main feature you want to look for in a watch. What’s more important is the ability for kids to communicate easily with family members and friends.
- Durability: If you have an active kid, a young athlete, or just a child who will forget to take off their watch when they’re showering, you’re going to want to make sure you choose something durable and waterproof.
- Price and Monthly Costs: These are important considerations, especially if your child runs the risk of losing the smartwatch and/or if you plan on upgrading your child to a phone relatively soon. Some of our testers noted that given some of the watch’s limitations and their child’s age, they would have preferred a more budget-friendly option that they’d use for just a short period of time.
Parents
How to Use Smartwatches Safely
Before buying a smartwatch for your child, there are a few safety features you may want to consider checking for:
- Parental controls and/or privacy settings
- Location tracker
- SOS or emergency calls option
- “Find my device” option
- School mode or programmable no-call times
Beyond that, the experts we spoke to recommend taking note of the following tips to help your child use a smartwatch safely:
- Go by maturity, not age: Dr. Moreno says there’s “not an age or a grade” that makes a child ready for a smartwatch and that every child is different. “The decisions should be milestone-based instead of age-based,” she notes, suggesting that parents think about how emotionally mature and physically responsible kids are before deciding on a smartwatch.
- Start simple: Dzwil also believes the decision-making process behind giving a child a smartwatch is individualized but urges parents to choose features that may be age-appropriate. “If you plan to introduce a child younger than 12 to a smartwatch, I would recommend starting with a basic model and gradually building to more features as that child continues to mature.”
- Talk first: Dzwil points out that having a piece of connectivity technology is also a good opportunity to have discussions about when it’s appropriate to use the technology to connect. Dr. Moreno seconds the importance of hashing out expectations ahead of time, especially with younger kids. “You need to navigate what the expectations will be. The upfront work saves a lot of work later,” she notes.
- Have clear rules and expectations: Speaking of expectations, Dr. Moreno adds that parents and caregivers should clearly outline all rules, regulations, and expectations surrounding a smartwatch, or any piece of technology for that matter, ahead of time.
- Know what’s being tracked: Smartwatches can collect data, and you need to know what kind of data is being collected about your child, Dr. Alper says. Dzwil adds that there have been reports that some smartwatch manufacturers don’t follow safety protocols, so hackers can easily seize control of a child’s watch and gain access to personal data including the child’s location, so be sure you know exactly what safeguards are in place before purchasing a watch.
- Acknowledge the positives: It is OK to acknowledge the positives and potential benefits a smartwatch could bring to your family. Dzwil explains that safety is a big benefit, and knowing that you can track your child’s location and that they can call 911 if needed are helpful reassurances; plus, he adds, they can serve as an educational tool, teaching them responsibility and independence, and as a tool to take charge of their own health.
- Model healthy tech habits: Dzwil encourages parents to set a good example for kids with their own digital habits. For instance, don’t use your cell phone or other devices during family time, establish tech-free zones in the house, and communicate in person whenever possible to help your child understand the boundaries of technology and when they should and should not use it.
Who We Are
Sarah Bradley is a freelance health and parenting writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons. As a homeschooling mom who works part-time, she understands the value of shopping for parenting products that are not only safe and affordable but can be trusted to keep you and your family healthy.
Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN, is a registered nurse and a mom of five children ranging from teens to a preschooler. She’s tried just about every gadget and gizmo out there in an effort to make her life as a parent easier (no shame), and she’s a big fan of smartwatches that let her kids feel cool while secretly keeping them in touch with her.
