If you want to get your child more active, then a smartwatch for kids could be a great idea. Of course there are plenty of ways to get your little one excited about playing outside, starting a new hobby, or even going on a family walk, but they will love tracking their activity with their own smartwatch.
If you have a smartwatch yourself, you know how good they are at getting you to move more. A child's smartwatch does focus less on the fitness element, however, it is still a good tool for encouraging your little one to burn off their energy, plus most also have features including games, a camera, an alarm clock and even the ability to make calls.
With some smartwatches including GPS tracking, messaging and call functions, they are a great alternative to giving your child a phone if you want to keep tabs on them. Plus many have an SOS call function for peace of mind.
What is a smartwatch?
Before we start running down the best children's smartwatch for your youngster, it's essential to understand what a smartwatch is and the benefits for kids who have one.
Simply put, a smartwatch is a wearable computer that can do everything from call or message contacts to taking photos. The main focus of a smartwatch for children is more on the interactive features, such as GPS tracking and built-in games. However, there is an element of tracking physical activity and heart rate monitoring too. These particular features will be good to have if you've found that your child is less active with an increase in technology and they could help manage screen time.
What to consider when buying a children's smartwatch
The biggest thing to consider before buying a children's smartwatch is the age of your child. Younger kids will want different things from a smartwatch to an older child. Smartwatches for younger children tend to be more basic, and can be both fun and educational, whereas ones for older children will have more interactive and safety features.
Best kids' smartwatch at a glance:
•Best kids' smartwatch for safety: myFirst Fone R2, £199.99
•Best first kids smartwatch: VTech Kidizoom Smart Watch, £40
•Best children's smartwatch for sports and fitness: KALINCO Kids Smart Watch, £26.99
•Best themed kids smartwatch: Pokemon kids smartwatch, £24.99
Children can be a bit accident-prone, so it's also important to consider the durability of a smartwatch. You should look for features such as scratch-resistant screens, waterproofing, and bands that can withstand a bit of wear and tear.
To give you a helping hand with your decision, here are all the best options on the market.
The best children's smartwatch 2024
1.
NickWatch
Best overall smartwatch for kids
NickWatch www.argos.co.uk
Description
NickWatch has all the features of a connected kids’ smartwatch: GPS tracking, two-way messaging, calling and a camera. It is also colourful and uses Nickelodeon characters and icons throughout the whole experience and in all the games in the smartwatch. Plus the watch straps are interchangeable to suit your little one's style.
**One reviewer, Ceri, said: "**The concept of this watch is wonderful. It allows your child to experience some aspects of the online world whilst keeping them within safe limits! It’s super easy to receive and respond to messages on the watch meaning as parents you can text the watch and await a reply. Your child can also make phone calls from the watch but I’d like to add that these contacts need to be set up on the app or linking the watches. Again keeping it safe! There’s several other features to keep young minds busy such as design, listen to music or playing games. I love that the watch comes with two straps to enable you to switch up the look of the watch. I will say the straps took a minute to work out but once we’d worked it out it made sense. This watch is brilliant however it will not work without the subscription so you need to buy this in addition to the watch, so you need to consider whether you’ll continue the upkeep of the subscription or it’ll make the watch redundant."
Pros
- Child friendly designs and usability
- GPS tracking
- Two way messaging
- Interchangeable designs
Cons
- Tricky to set up
- NickWatch subscription plans cost extra
Best first kids smartwatch
AmazonDescription
Are you searching for a smartwatch for your young child? This is the perfect first smartwatch as an introduction to the world of tech. With many incorporated educational features and of course, fitness tracking which allows for active play challenges and step tracking, it’s an ideal multi-functional watch for young kids.
One reviewer said: "Bought for a four-year-old, she loves it. She's very quickly got used to navigating the menus and watch faces. She loves taking pictures and applying the simple funny filters. She's had some fun with the built-in games, but also has time to grow into them more. Battery life is good and touchscreen is accurate and responsive."
Pros
- Helps kids with telling the time
- Lots of interactive features
Cons
- Extra charges for additional apps
Best smart watch for keeping in contact
AmazonDescription
From taking pictures to receiving calls, is there anything this kid's smartwatch can't do? If you're little (or big!) one needs to contact you in an emergency, they can directly click on the SOS location on the home screen. It will automatically call the first two numbers in the phonebook, which you can programme. Plus it includes 16 different games as well as music, camera, alarm clock, puzzle games, calculator and torch.
One user commented: "My son is over the moon with this. He loved it so much. Very easy to set up. He's 8-years-old, and I didn't want to buy him a mobile yet, but with the homeschooling happening from time to time, I needed him to have a way to contact me easily when I need to go out for the school runs. Even when we are out and about is always peace of mind to know he has a way of contacting us or asking for help if something happens. So with all this in mind, this smartwatch is great!! Very safe for their age as there are no apps or messages, just calls to the numbers you choose. Perfect!"
Pros
- Children can get in contact with you if they need to
- Great for games
Cons
- Needs at least a 2G Simcard for the SOS features to work
Best smart watch for toddlers and babies
AmazonDescription
How about a toy version for your baby or toddler? With two interactive buttons, colourful lights and realistic smartwatch sounds, tiny techies will love the Laugh & Learn Time to Learn Smart Watch! There are so many fun activities packed into this interactive smartwatch. From dialling up their good pal, Puppy, to rocking out to fun songs or clicking on the buttons and pressing on the side toggle.
A reviewer said: "The watch is nice and chunky which makes it easier for little hands to hold and is not too complex either, just the right amount of functions for babies and young toddlers to enjoy using it, the music played was catchy and the lights made it very attractive. The music is one that sticks to your head. The downside is that the strap isn't adjustable so you can't allow them to use it properly as a watch. The switch and the winder are such a bonus."
Read our full Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Time to Learn Smart Watch review here.
Pros
- Great for older babies and toddlers
- Encourages role play
Cons
- The strap isn't adjustable
Best children's smartwatch for sports and fitness
AmazonDescription
A great smartwatch for sport fans, it features a fitness tracker which monitors kids’ heart rate and tracks blood oxygen, as well as monitoring how long children sleep each night. For sports there are 100+ sport modes including running, riding, basketball, football, and even swimming. Your little one will then get unique awards when they reach their sport goals. The smartwatch will also remind kids to wash their hands, drink water and stand up to walk. It can also log adolescent girls’ menstrual cycles.
One reviewer, Libby, said: "I had bought and returned 3 watches before trying this one. It is everything you need in a smart watch! Simple and easy to understand but also thorough and informative. Alarm, sleep tracker, step counter, everything is great and the Very Fit app is better than glory fit which most budget smart watches use. Highly recommend!!"
Pros
- Over 100 sports modes
- Tracks health and fitness
- Can set helpful reminders
Cons
- Some reviewers said it doesn't accurately track steps
Best waterproof kids smartwatch
AmazonDescription
A great watch for kids who love water play or rainy weather! You can put the watch into 10 M deep water for up to 10 minutes. Plus it has a reassuring SOS key to call family numbers for help. With 5 learning games, a camera, calculator and stopwatch, your little one will love this watch.
One reviewer said: "I didn’t want my daughter having a phone just yet at the age of 10, so this was the next best thing. She can call me when at her dads, with no internet etc for me to have to worry about. It’s a great little watch. Happy daughter and mum!"
Pros
- Waterproof
- SOS calls
Cons
- SIM card required for built-in safety features
Best kids activity tracker smartwatch
AmazonDescription
If your little one is a fan of Star Wars, they'll love the Garmin vívofit jr.2. It features a bright orange Star Wars design band and there is a corresponding mobile app that motivates kids to achieve goals that unlock adventure, games and icons featuring Rey, Kylo Ren and other Star Wars characters. You can also set reminders for tasks such as homework and brushing their teeth.
One customer said: "Bought for my 8 year old at Christmas. He loves it, and it does more than I thought it would. Great for seeing how active he's been each day and how much sleep he's had. I can set chores and give reward coins and he saves them up for a treat. Each 60mins activity gets a move on the game on the app too."
Pros
- Interactive games to encourage movement
- Can set reminders for homework
Cons
- Requires Garmin Jr. app to be installed on a parent's compatible smartphone
Best themed kids smartwatch
Smyths Toyswww.smythstoys.com
Description
The ideal smartwatch for any PokéMasters in the making. It comes with an alarm clock, a camera and a voice recorder. There are 10 different Pokémon-themed faces for your little one to customise their view, plus Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur and Squirtle are featured on the strap.
A reviewer said: "This is a great watch. I like that it has an analogue face display to reinforce learning the time. My son likes it because it has a camera and video for recording! He loves Pokemon so anything Pokemon is always a hit. The strap is soft and fits well. It’s rechargeable which is better than messing around with batteries. The calculator is a useful feature too."
Pros
- Built in alarm clock
- Great for recording videos
Cons
- American date format cannot be changed
Best kids smartwatch for safety
www.uk.myfirst.techuk.myfirst.tech
Description
The myFirst Fone R2 combines the functionalities of a phone, GPS tracker, music player, camera, clock, and fitness tracker into one convenient device for your little one. Plus it has a durable design which is useful for young children.
One reviewer, David, said: "This watch has numerous functions, and my child's friend has one, so I bought one for her. I may now call my child without requiring her to have a smartphone. You may also send video calls, text messages and emoji messages to the watch. That's awesome! She can also add people to her friend list."
Pros
- Lots of great safety features
- Durable design and waterproof
Cons
- It is expensive for a children's watch
Are smartwatches worth it for kids?
Smartwatches will not just entertain your child, they often have many safety and health benefits too. Unlike a kids tablet, which while useful, can mean your child is more sedentary, a smartwatch for children will encourage activity with a pedometer and activity tracker, with some even giving rewards for activity. Some smartwatches for kids also have health monitoring such as a heart rate tracker. If your little one is getting to the age where they might walk to school alone, or meet friends without you, then a smartwatch can add reassurance with a GPS tracker and also the ability to make and receive calls or send messages. All of the safety features aside, kids will love the games, the kids' cameraand also features like a torch, calculator, alarm clock and a good kids smartwatch can also help your little one to tell the time with different options for watch faces.
What age should kids get a smartwatch?
The functions of smartwatches vary greatly and this affects the age they are suitable for. Some smartwatches do not have the ability to make or receive calls making them ideal for younger children, whereas those which do have call functions are great for older kids from about age ten. You will know your little one best and can judge what features they will enjoy, or which you would like them to have access to. A smartwatch packed with features could be a bit complicated for a younger child and could cause frustration. Also consider durability. For a younger child the smartwatch will need to be made with scratch resistant screens and robust straps. You can also get pretend smartphones for babies and toddlers which are great to encourage role play.
Can a kid have a smartwatch without a phone?
Absolutely! A smartwatch is a great alternative to a phone, especially if you are not quite ready to get your little one a phone. A smartwatch will allow you to keep in contact and even track your older child, but does not give them access to the internet and social media as a phone does. For some smartwatches you will need to download a compatible app on your own phone, but your little one will not need a phone for them to use their smartwatch.
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.