It is obvious that the generation born in this decade is already more technologically advanced than the generation prior to it. Kids nowadays are fascinated by the latest in technology and can easily understand and grasp the concepts that new technology introduces. They grow up with all this new tech and are excited to own and use them.
However, kids can be very demanding when it comes to wanting the latest technology that is hip and trendy at the moment. iPads and smartphones may not be the ideal choice for kids of a young age, say between 4 and 12 years old, due to the number of risks they entail with unsupervised attention. A suitable alternative may be found in smart watches.
Smart watches nowadays incorporate the latest technology, featuring options like GPS and camera. In some cases, they even provide the ability to make and attend phone calls, making them safer and more risk-free than a tablet or phone. Plus, a smart watch keeps kids entertained and involved in the product and it will be some time before they actually get bored of it and want something more expensive.
The following is a review of the top 10 smart watches for kids.
10+ years old
Pebble Time
The Pebble Time is a suitable option because of the features it offers. It is a durable yet technologically advanced smart watch, which can work with both iOS and Android. It displays notifications, sends voice recordings through its built-in microphone, has a calendar and comes with other great features.
Main Features
- Tough glass display
- Water resistant
- Notification alerts
- Quick reply
- Alarms and events
- Calendar
- Always-on display
- Activity and sleep tracker
- Up to 7 days of battery life
- Recommend age: 10+ years old
4 to 12 years old
VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2
The VTech KidiZoom is a stylish and fun watch for kids. Its main attraction is the camera which is built into the device, allowing children to take photos anywhere and anytime. Furthermore, it has a full parental control system to keep the parents at ease. It can be charged with a microUSB cable and features a motion sensor for gaming.
Main Features
- Splash- and sweat-proof
- Built-in camera for selfies and video recording
- Motion sensor for built-in gaming apps
- MicroUSB charging
- Includes a lot of downloadable content
- Full parental control
- Recommended age: 4 to 12 years old
5 to 10 years old
VTech Star Wars Stormtrooper Smartwatch
This VTech watch is Star Wars-themed and an absolute delight for kids who are Star Wars fans. It will even be adored by a few adults. This watch is pretty much the same as the last reviewed watch, but it offers games and other interactive features based on Star Wars. It has a voice changer, which can turn your voice into a Star Wars character, and even features a camera.
Main Features
- Trendy and cool
- Camera and video recording
- Alarm and calendar
- Stopwatch and pedometer
- Star Wars-themed voice changer, picture template and sound effects such as lightsaber sounds
- Recommended age: 5 to 10 years old
4 to 12 years old
Garmin Vivofit Jr 2
The Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 is a children’s favorite. It is a theme-based smart watch that is based on superheroes and Disney princesses to appeal to all sorts of kids. Not only is it one to grab the attention of children, but it is also an ally for parents. It can help parents send reminders for chores to be completed through the app, which will send a notification right to the kid’s wrist.
Apart from that, it is a great fitness tracking device. The overall design is based on maintaining and keeping track of fitness and active exercises.
Main Features
- Fully waterproof
- Apps and themes designed to promote outdoor activities among children
- Parental Personal Assistant app to send notifications to the smart watch and keep parents informed about their kids
- Alerts and alarms
- Activity rewards. For instance, kids can complete Avengers-based activities to get rewards
- One-year battery life
- Stylish and fashionably themed
- Recommended age: 4 to 12 years old
Perfect for 12/14+ years old
Huami Amazfit Bip
The Chinese manufacturer has taken the smart watch market by a storm with its typical style of introducing the best high-end features at a market-competitive and sometimes even cheaper prices.
The Amazfit Bip has many great features which makes it a great partner to have at all times as it can fulfill many purposes.
This watch is all about style and fitness. Featuring a GPS system and heart rate monitor, it is durable and tough and can connect to Bluetooth, which will enable notifications and allow you to use applications on the smartphone. It offers great value for money and is, therefore, a great choice.
Main Features
- Durable and tough
- Great features for a low price
- GPS system
- Running, cycling and fitness monitor
- Heart rate monitor
- 30 days of battery life
- Recommended age: 14+ years old
4 to 10 years old
LG GizmoPal 2
The LG GizmoPal 2 is a parent’s best asset when it comes to shielding their children from the risks of the outdoors. The watch features a strong and reliable GPS system, which can easily help parents track the location of their children.
Moreover, they can create a restricted radius for their children called the geo fence. Should the child cross that radius, a notification will be sent to the parents and alert them about their children’s whereabouts so that parents will always know where their children are.
The watch comes with an app, which is used to communicate with it. The watch also features a two-way calling system, though both the GPS and calling system require a Verizon subscription. Apart from these communication systems, the watch features other interesting tools as well.
Main Features
- Powerful GPS system
- Auto call answering system with two-way communication
- Kid-themed designs
- Geo fence
- Fully accessible and safe parental features
- Recommended age: 4 to 10 years old
6 to 14 years old
Kurio Watch 2.0+
The Kurio Watch 2.0+ is a very handy tool for parents and children. It allows children to access multiplayer games. It can even connect to an Android device using Bluetooth, which can be used to access other features and apps.
It can make videos and pictures, even selfies, and can even send and receive pictures and other media. Apart from the 256 MB memory, it comes with other standard features all for an attractive price.
Main Features
- Splash-proof
- Camera and video recorder
- Multiplayer options
- Receive and send pictures and media
- Emergency app
- 256 MB internal memory
- Connectivity to other devices
- Picture editing tools
- Recommended age: 6 to 14 years old
6 to 10 years old
Omate Wherecom K3
The Omate Wherecom K3 is based on the idea of a smartphone in a smart watch. It features a 3G SIM card slot, which can allow one to make limited phone calls. It also has support for GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other connectivity tools, making it almost like a smartphone.
The 8 GB internal memory allows one to store a lot of data such as music and pictures. It is also a parental asset as the GPS system can help them track their children’s location and control other features of the watch.
Main Features
- Supported by Android 5.1
- Similar to smartphones becoming a wrist-based smart watch
- Limited but doable phone calls
- GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Parental controls
- 8 GB internal memory
- Kid-friendly interface
- Recommended age: 6 to 10 years old
6 to 10 years old
Tencent QQ Watch
The Tencent QQ Watch has a built-in GPS system and a microSIM slot which enables it to do basic communication such as calling and texting. Its GPS system allows it to be tracked by parents. It even has a security emergency option which can help prevent any worries.
The watch also features other standard options such as group chats, pedometer, text message, alarms and calendar, making it an efficient tool.
Main Features
- GPS system
- MicroSIM card slot for calling and texting
- Emergency SOS service
- Reminder and alarm
- Weather
- Class mode
- Recommended age: 4 to 10 years old
4 to 7 years old
LeapFrog LeapBand
This outdoor watch is a great initiative to help children become more active and productive and remain outdoors and away from the television and videogames. The watch features more than 50 games and applications, which are challenge-based and keep kids involved in activities.
It is designed to ensure that children become healthy and active. It also features other basic tools but primarily focuses on productive activities.
Main Features
- Water-resistant
- 50 activity-based challenges come pre-installed
- Parental controls
- Activity tracker for kids
- Recommended age: 4 to 7 years old
Best Smart Watches for Kids : Conclusion
Smart watches are a great tool for children and adults alike. They provide many benefits through different integrated technologies, which allow them to be safe and user-friendly. They are compatible with many other devices, support a wide range of connectivity options and offer a great sense of style.
A smartwatch for women and smartwatch for men also features options which have now been transferred into smart watches for kids. These multifunctional devices can be used to help parents keep track of their children and their whereabouts. They can even designate a strict radius so that parents can be notified when their children cross the designated area.
Furthermore, to add to the security benefits, the ability to make phone calls along with texting makes smart watches a very important tool in keeping parents at ease.
These watches are also promoting a more healthy and proactive routine in children while grasping and holding onto their attention. It offers a wide range of healthy outdoor activities and with lower risks as opposed to smartphones and the risk of exposures that they possess.
The best product in our top 10 list is the Huami Amazfit Bip. The Chinese manufacturer has outdone itself by creating a product which has all the features that one can expect in a smart watch for kids from a renowned company while maintaining a very low price tag.
The Amazfit Bip features a high-end GPS system which can aid parents in tracking their children. It can be controlled through the app, and the parental controls will allow parents to access the smart watch. It is also a great tool to keep track of fitness activities like cycling and running and even features a heart rate monitor. Furthermore, it has a 30-day battery life. All in all, it offers great value for money and is definitely the product to go for.