Best Smartwatches for Kids 2022
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Smartwatches are not just for adults. Some are designed for kids. If you do not want to give your kid a smartphone but want a way to communicate with them, the best option is to provide them with a smartwatch.
Make sure you choose the right smartwatch for your kids. The model should be something that offers games, learning development, fitness trackers, and others. Below are some of the best smartwatches for kids you can consider buying.
1. Best smartwatch for kids (Editor’s choice)
1.1. Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch Se is a stylish, lightweight, and feature-rich watch for kids and adults. It is not labeled as childish or babyish.
Subscribe on Monthly Plan or Just Run it on WiFi
The watch can operate solely on WiFi to take advantage of all its features, or you can subscribe to the GPS-and-cellular variant with a monthly plan. A phone number will be assigned to your child, and he can use the watch even without WiFi, which is useful when your kids are out on their own.
Parental Controls and Tracking
You can monitor your kids through their smartwatch. Make sure your kids have their own Apple ID, and the parent’s iPhone runs iOS 15 or later to manage and monitor their smartwatches, including tracking their location. No need to download an app to connect with the watch.
Pros
- Amazing haptics
- 50-meter water-resistant
- Quick-swap straps
- Solid activity tracking
- Good battery
Cons
- Works only with an iPhone
- The screen is not on all the time
2. Cheap smartwatches for kids
2.1. Fitbit ACE 2
The Fitbit Ace kid’s smartwatch is designed to make tracking of daily steps enjoyable by providing rewards and badges for accomplishing specific targets.
Water-Resistant
If your kids love to play in the rain or use the restroom, you don’t have to worry about their watch getting wet as Fitbit Ace 2 is waterproof. The battery life is up to five days, making it ideal for wearing all week to school on a single charge.
Easy to Set Up Family Account
If you will use the Fitbit as a family, setting up a family account is easy. Through this, you can monitor your child’s progress easily. Your children can customize their watch face using one of the ten funky clock designs. Check out the adult version of the smartwatch if you intend to use one.
Pros
- Extended battery life
- Watch face can be customized
- It can be synced with Android and iOS
- Waterproof
Cons
- It does not have a GPS tracker
3. Best waterproof smartwatches for kids
3.1 GARMIN VIVOFIT JR 2
The Garmin Vivofit JR2 smartwatch for kids offers a wide range of functions that can make your kid’s daily activities an adventurous one. The exterior of this smartwatch is adorned with images from your favorite franchises like Star Wars to The Avengers. Using the Garmin smartwatch helps your kids instill healthy habits in children at a young age.
Accelerometer Motion Sensor
Its accelerometer motion sensor tracks your child’s movement and count steps, as well as monitors sleep. The smartwatch also has a Move Bar that shows up when inactivity has built up. If you forgot to sync the data to the companion app, you don’t have to worry, as the tracker can store data for up to four weeks.
Customizable Bands and Color Screen
The band is available in two styles – the stretchy that can accommodate up to 147mm for ages 4-7 and the adjustable band that can fit the wrist of 130 to 175mm for kids ages 6+. These bands are comfortable to wear day and night, and you can change the screen color according to your kid’s preference. The screen clearly displays the rewards and readings.
Pros
- Extended battery life
- Parents can monitor through a mobile app
- Full of useful functions
- Durable and will last for years
Cons
- The in-app games are not as good as the others
That said, the Garmin Vivofit JR2is definetely an affortable smartwatch for your kids.
3.2. XPLORA XGO2
A famous Norwegian smartwatch company makes Xplora XGO2. It is cheaper than others but feature-rich and comes with a mobile phone. Also, the gadget has GPS tracking capabilities. XGO2 is highly recommended for children aged 5-12 as it is GDPR compliant.
Safe Call Features
When in use, your children can make and receive voice calls from the pre-save numbers only. Meaning it cannot receive any unsolicited calls. Thus children can talk only to trusted contacts. It does not feature social media. Your kids can also receive and reply to text messages.
IP67 Water-Resistant
The brand has given an IP67 water-resistant level which means it can survive a rainy day or messy play session. XGO2 includes a 700mAh battery that can last for 72 hours on standby. The gadget also works well on WiFi and 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity.
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Call features that restrict unsolicited calls
- GPS tracking available
- Allows parents to set a safety zone for their children
- With a pedometer, stopwatch, and alarm clock
Cons
- The battery life is a bit weaker than others
4. Best Smartwatches for Kids with GPS
4.1 Vodafone NEO Smart Kids Watch
The Fuseproject designs the Vodafone NEO kid smartwatch with popular Disney characters. Most designs are based on popular characters from Frozen, Star Wars, Marvel, and others.
High-Quality and Durable Straps
It comes with two straps – traditional and straps that allow you to angle the watch on your kid’s wrist for better viewing. The watch face is circular and surrounded by a white plastic finish. It displays a bright and clear screen, holds up well under sunlight, and does not pick up fingerprints easily.
GPS and Call Enabled
Tracking your children’s location is easy with the GPS on NEO. Through the companion app, you can trace the current location of your kids on the map. It gives you a live update as long as the watch is turned on. You can also message and call them by swiping it to the right to access the contacts. Calls may last up to five minutes if you want to preserve the battery life.
Pros
- Eye-catching design with inbuilt Disney characters
- Light on your kid’s wrist
- With safety features
- Will not easily pick up fingerprints
Cons
- It does not include a keyboard, so kids can only use the pre-written messages.
- It does not support video.
- Short battery life.
4.2. Tencent Kids Smartwatch
The last on our list is the Tencent Kids Smartwatch. This watch has a very cool and cute strap design. It features some of the famous cartoon characters kids love. Tencent has built-in GPS and supports GSM SIM cards that you can insert into the watch. You can easily track the real-time location of your children.
Better Contact Space Storage
Unlike other smartwatches with limited contact space storage, Tencent can store six family members and 16 friends through its app. This 2G QQ Smartwatch is ideal for kids aged 6-12 years old. You can do video and voice calls, messages, and track location.
Impressive SOS Feature
Aside from GPS, this device has an SOS feature which the parents think is very important. By pressing the SOS button for 3 seconds, it will send an emergency alert to 3 persons from your contacts.
Pros
- Two to four days battery life
- Better contact storage
- Attractive and colorful watch strap
- It has a GPS and SOS feature
Cons
- Supports 2G network only
- Not fully waterproof
Final Thoughts
Parents are buying smartwatches for their kids mainly for tracking, safety, and health monitoring purposes. Through this device, it will be easier for the parents to track the location of their kids and their activities. Also, it is much easier to send them notifications without the need to use their phone. It does not only simplify life for parents, but it also gives them peace of mind.