If you want to stay connected with your child, but the child is not ready for a cell phone just yet, a kid-friendly smartwatch could be the answer.
You get location tracking, calling and texting with pre-approved contacts, and sometimes fun bonus features like music or games, all without the unfettered access to social media and the internet.
In fact, many models don’t have to be paired with a smartphone. They’re also typically cheaper and simpler than, say, an Apple Watch, which could have more functionality than a young one needs.
Justin Brookman, director of CR’s Consumer Privacy and Technology team, bought a Verizon Gizmo Watch 2 for his son when the child began commuting to middle school via the Washington, D.C. metro. It allowed the two to stay in touch if the boy was delayed by an out-of-service train or a change of plans after school.
“It really was an ‘in case of emergency, break glass’ thing,” Brookman says, relishing the lack of features. It didn’t present nearly as many distractions as a phone.
Many experts today applaud such efforts to delay that first smartphone purchase.
Brooke Shannon, founder of the non-profit advocacy group Wait Until 8th, advises parents to hold off until a child finishes eighth grade, citing the amount of time young people typically spend on phones once they have them—sometimes upward of nine hours a day, she says—and the negative impact that may have on mental health and quality of life.
“How many hours outside are not being played?” she asks. “How many books are not being read? How many in-person conversations are not happening? How much of childhood is being missed out on because of this device?”
A kid-friendly smartwatch is less troublesome than a fully loaded iPhone, she says, though she does endorse a pared-down “dumb” phone that can be stowed in a backpack, not to mention total tech abstinence, too.
But Dr. Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of the book “First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette,” notes the limitations of such alternatives. “Parents want to know where their kids are and you can’t do that without GPS tracking,” she says. “I think a smartwatch with GPS is a great way for parents to let go and give [kids] a little bit of independence and freedom.”
A smartwatch can also help counter certain disconcerting trends among adolescents, coaxing them to spend more face-to-face time with friends. “They’re socializing at home on their computers, but it means they’re not out in the wild,” Pearlman says. And so, kids are getting less practice making the everyday decisions that lead to an independent life, whether that’s navigating transit or ordering food on their own. “It’s important for adolescents to stretch the boundaries while they’re still in a safe space,” she explains.
To get a better understanding of the pros and cons of handing a smartwatch to a child, plus a few tips on what to look for when selecting a smartwatch for a young person and, yes, product recommendations, I reached out to a few experts, including a number of CR colleagues, who tend to be really thoughtful about such purchases, especially when it comes to value, performance, and digital rights.
Here’s what I learned.
Most Models Can Call and Text, but Also Require Monthly Payments
The ability to make a call or send a text straight to your child’s wrist is a key feature—and you don’t need to pair the watch with a phone to get that functionality. It’s available on most of the popular kid-friendly models, including the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3, the Gabb Watch 3, and the T-Mobile SyncUP Kids Watch. (For pricing and retailer info, see Models Referenced in This Story below.)
Models like the Gizmo 3 also offer video chatting, using a built-in camera.
But some lower-cost or fitness-oriented options such as the Little Tikes Tobi 2, Fitbit Ace 3, and Garmin Bounce can’t make or receive calls.
Keep in mind that you’ll likely need to pay a small monthly fee—perhaps an activation charge, too—to access calling and texting.
The Gizmo Watch 3, for example, requires you to sign up for a Verizon plan or add the device to an existing Verizon plan. Service for the watch costs $10 per month, plus taxes and fees, in addition to a $35 activation fee. The plan for the Gabb Watch 3 costs between $12.99 and $17.99 a month plus tax, depending on the contract you choose. The TickTalk 5 requires a plan that starts at $10 per month.
In return, you get to control how your child uses the watch. He or she can only converse with the contacts added via an app on your phone. The Gabb Watch 3 allows up to 100 parent-approved contacts, for example, while the Gizmo Watch 3 confines the list to 20.
Models may also offer a few different ways to send messages to accommodate different skill levels. Think manual typing, prewritten texts, voice-to-text transcription, audio messages, and emojis.
Keep Tabs With Location Tracking
Models like the Gizmo Watch 3, Gabb Watch 3, and Lil Tracker offer GPS-based location tracking that lets you check up on a child walking to school, riding a bike to a friend’s house, or arriving at soccer practice. Some models allow you to view the watch’s location history, too. They may even alert you when the watch wearer roams outside of a designated safe zone.
Nahrae Tinney, a product marketing manager at CR, bought a Gizmo 2 watch to keep closer tabs on her elderly father, but found that the location updates were a bit infrequent and somewhat imprecise. “Even when we knew where my dad was, it would show him on the next street over,” she says. But other parents I spoke with say the watch’s location tracking is accurate enough for their needs.
In the end, Tinney found a simple Apple AirTag to be less cumbersome to use, though it doesn’t allow for calls and texts. People seem to like Jiobit trackers, too. Yusuke Tomizawa, a digital marketing specialist at CR, bought one for his daughter to take to school. “The only limitation I see is that it’s in her backpack,” he says, “so if there ever was an emergency and she didn’t take her backpack with her, I wouldn’t know where she is.”
Battery Life Can Vary Significantly
Of course, a watch is only useful while it’s powered on, so be prepared to charge it daily.
The battery life of the Gabb Watch 3 clocks in at anywhere from 12 to 48 hours, the manufacturer says, depending on use. The Gizmo 3 boasts a battery life of up to 3.6 days in standby mode, but only around 4.5 hours when used to make calls. And the Garmin Bounce logs up to two days, according to the manufacturer.
Other models have slightly more impressive claims. If you’re looking for a device that can power along for roughly a week, the Fitbit Ace 3 can last up to eight days between charges, the manufacturer says, and the TickTalk 5 claims it can last nearly five days in standby mode.
Read the Fine Print on Data Collection
Some manufacturers state that they only collect the data that’s reasonably necessary to provide service and that they comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law that aims to preserve the online privacy of children 13 and under.
However, parents should understand that much of the watch’s data is still being collected and monitored in order to run the device, even if it’s not necessarily being sold to advertisers or data brokers.
Verizon, for example, states that it collects location data, call and message history, audio messages, and more, from all Gizmo watch wearers, including those younger than 13. Gabb Wireless also says that it collects information like location data, message history, and contacts in order to provide and improve its services, but “does not sell or rent your child’s Personal Information to any third party for any purpose—including for advertising or marketing purposes.”
These policies aren’t necessarily cause for alarm, says CR’s privacy and tech expert Justin Brookman.
“The Gizmo Watch collects a lot of sensitive data about your kid, but that’s kind of the point,” he explains. “Many parents want to be able to track their kids’ location and communications with others. Also, it’s good to see that Verizon explicitly says they don’t use this data for any purposes other than making the Gizmo Watch work.”
Jill Murphy—the chief content officer at the advocacy group Common Sense Media, who bought a Verizon Gizmo 2 Watch for her daughter—says parents should still do their homework. “You should always be looking at what privacy protections and transparent data handling policies they have,” Murphy adds. “Nobody makes it easy, but the [watches] that are designed for kids typically put that info front and center because they know their audience has concerns around privacy and protection.”
More Features to Consider
Here are some other things to think about when deciding on the best watch for your child.
Durability: Most parents report that the watches withstood regular use by less-than-careful little ones, though one parent did note that he had to send a Verizon Gizmo 2 in for repairs.
Fit: These watches can be a bit bulky on a child’s small wrist. Most manufacturers offer only one display size and a single band with holes to adjust the fit. So, if your child is on the small side, it may be worth trying the device on before purchasing it to get a sense of the fit.
Fitness tracking: Know that some fitness-first models, like the Fitbit Ace 3 or Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3, don’t allow for direct-from-wrist calls or texts. They’re designed to track health metrics like steps and sleep—much like an adult fitness tracker—and motivate movement. Before purchasing, keep in mind that an increased focus on exercise tracking could be inappropriate for some children, promoting an unhealthy fixation on body-related metrics and daily movement goals.
Fun Extras: Certain bonus features might make an otherwise useful device actually fun to use regularly. The Gizmo Watch 3, for example, has a built-in camera to send selfies and video messages. The TickTalk 5 can access music via iHeartRadio. And the Gabb Watch 3 allows the wearer to care for a digital pet. Most also offer a few basic games, with some allowing your child to play with another kid who has the same kind of watch. Of course, you may specifically want a watch without these features, so as to limit use. Most higher-end models allow you to set specific “quiet times” via the parental controls in the app.
What’s the Right Age for a Smartwatch?
These kid-friendly devices tend to market themselves toward elementary and middle school children, but that doesn’t mean they’re ideal for everyone in that age range. Shannon, for example, sees little reason to give a smartwatch to a child as early as elementary school, but acknowledges that a smartwatch in middle school could help put off adopting a phone until the end of eighth grade.
Brookman suggests looking to other development markers when making the call on timing. “If the kid is old enough to come home by themselves or let themselves in, I’d feel comfortable giving them a smartwatch,” he says.
Ultimately, the decision on when to buy a smartwatch is going to be a personal one, determined by your family’s needs. Is your kid heading out more on his or her own? Does your family have a specific circumstance, like shared custody, in which one parent might want the ability to call or text more frequently? Would a watch help your child build a sense of responsibility through, say, learning to better monitor time, respond to alarms and reminders, and charge and maintain a piece of tech?
These questions should be part of an ongoing dialogue between parents and kids about the role of tech in everyday life. And that’s true, no matter the device.
“Once you establish what is and isn’t okay, that conversation has to be re-established on a regular basis. You’re opening the door to another facet of communication with your kid—and it’s very personal,” says Murphy. “These devices are in their pockets, they’re on their wrists, they’re with them all the time.”'
Models Referenced in This Article
We looked at models from Fitbit, Garmin, Lil Tracker, Little Tikes, TickTalk, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Fitbit Ace 3 Price: $79.00 Available at: Amazon, Fitbit, Target, Walmart
Gabb Watch 3 Price: $149.99 Available at: Gabb
Garmin Bounce Price: $149.99 Available at: Garmin
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 Price: $89.99 Available at: Amazon, Garmin, Walmart
Lil Tracker Pro Watch Price: $134.99 Available at: LilTracker
Little Tikes Tobi 2 Price: $22.55 Available at: Amazon, Walmart
TickTalk 5 Price: $149.99 Available at: TickTalk
T-Mobile SyncUP Kids Watch Price: $174.00 Available at: T-Mobile
Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 Price: $149.99 Available at: Verizon