Kids smart watches can prepare for phones. What must be taken into account before purchasing

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By sarajacob2424@gmail.com


A great advantage is to give the child a smart watch is that it saves parents from having to buy a Smart phone While they still provide them with a direct line for their child. This can be particularly useful for parents who manage the logistics of the Pake August, decline or rely on other careers for transportation. Young children, in particular, may benefit from avoiding deviations that come with a phone. The fact that the watch is tied to its wrist is also a reward, taking into account the number of water bottles and blouses in the end in the missing and found regularly. It may also be a great incentive for children who need an additional boost to stay active, providing the GamFied experience through tracking challenges and fitness.

The term “smart watch” is used very loosely when it comes to children. Google or Amazon’s quick search will achieve a wide range of results, from a 25 -dollar digital watch with a few games to $ 300, which can follow vital life and communication 911 in the event of an emergency. For this guide, we focus mainly on smart watches that help parents to stay in contact with their children-instead of the hours that are designed for entertainment or designated fitness teams that do not have a bilateral contact. The latter is much simpler in terms of function and tends to be less expensive, which makes the decision -making process more clear than the choice between smart watches rich in features that require greater participation of parents and even a separate cellular plan.

Wids Smartwatch for a regular smart watch

Although both may share many functions themselves, smart watches for children usually have less features of full smart watches designed for adults. The child may not need an advantage of drawing the heart, for example, but tracking GPS and accessing contacts in emergency situations is necessary. Children’s watches also come with integrated degrees that the parents can customize from an accompanying application on their phones.

Smart watches are designed for children taking into account their needs and interests. Physically, it tends to be larger and more colored and features larger buttons and screens to facilitate mobility. Even traditional smart watch functions such as fitness tracking are adapted to children, with more step goals and activity options that can be achieved that are in line with the child’s lifestyle, making exercise more attractive.

A child looks at his smart watch

GPS tracking in actual time and communicating in two directions with parents are major features that we are looking for in a smart watch for children.

Vanessa Hand Orlena/CNET

Things to consider

Age range

This is one of the most important factors in choosing a smart watch, because it determines the type of features that your child will need. Watch designed for children between 5 years old and usually under material buttons, simple icons and less transportation, which makes them easy to use without the need to read or complicated. This ensures that children cannot send a text message to a stranger by mistake or call 911 while trying to play the snake. An example of a simple device with limited functions is Gabb Watch 3e.

Older children may benefit from more identical features, such as bipping, text messages, more powerful fitness, and even mobile phone payments. Options such as Apple Watch SE or Fitbit Ace provides more functions while continuing to provide parental controls to manage and monitor use.

GPS

If you are looking to follow your child accurately and in the actual time, we recommend a smart watch for children with GPS. For me, it is a non -applicable feature when shopping for children. Some famous brands, such as VTICH and Garmin, provide non -GPS versions of smart watches for their children designed to track entertainment or fitness. So make sure that the model you think specifically requires GPS tracking.

The site’s actual tracking is particularly useful if you want to monitor your child walking home from school. It also allows you to prepare Geofencing, which notices you if your child exceeds a course or a dependent location. Just keep in mind that the GPS follow usually requires a cellular connection and comes with additional monthly fees of the wireless provider.

A smart watch shows a map

Parents can use the geophine to get an alert when their child leaves a dedicated location.

Vanessa Hand Orlena/CNET

Communication

The cellular service is a must, not only to track GPS but also to make calls and texts on the contacts and services in emergency situations. You will need to determine whether the watch allows you to add monthly fees to the current phone plan or whether you need to go with another company completely. This can exclude transportation devices such as Gizmo Watch 3And it is exclusive to Verizon.

Then there are hours like Gabb Watch 3e, which is completely incomplete and provides its own cellular plans that you can purchase monthly, or under a year or two.

budget

Check the factors of all additions in your budget, including monthly service fees and any activation fees. You can expect to pay between $ 100 and $ 300 for the same device, in addition to an additional $ 10 to $ 20 per month for cellular service.

If you have a limited budget and all you really need from a smart watch for children is to track GPS, think about a custom tracker like Aartag Aartag. At a price of about $ 25, it provides battery life for a year, and you can buy an accessory to allow your child to wear it on their wrist. However, Aartag only works to track the site if there is a nearby iPhone or search for my device and does not replace traditional GPS tracking. I designed Apple Aartag to track objectsAnd not people, so it contains a number of alerts and systems to prevent unwanted tracking.

A child plays a game on his smart watch

Fitbit Ace LTE is a great alternative to children.

Scott Stein / CNET

Brands

The brand name device is another when you look at your budget. Although there are many cheap options from the least well -known companies that may offer similar jobs, it is important to follow up with caution because these may not be safe in terms of privacy for your child. These devices may be characterized by reasonable prices even the compact cameras, which may represent additional concerns if it is misused.

The safest betting will be to stick to known brands such as Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, or models that are reviewed and examined by good reputation sources, such as Ticktalk, Bark Watch or Gabb Watch.

entertainment

Your child may be excited to play games on his watch, but it may be less than his happiness when your child is pasted on the device in all hours. To avoid another conflict at the screen time, we recommend choosing an hour with a few “entertainment” features as much as possible, especially when it comes to social media.

If the watch contains additional games or features such as the compact camera, make sure that there are parental controls that can limit the time of use, so do not send your child to school with a permanent distraction their wrist. Although the grandmother may explode, it is expected that your child will not play in games during the study hours. In fact, some schools actually prohibit these devices for this particular reason.

A child plays a game on his smart watch

Kaiju Golf game on Fitbit Ace.

Scott Stein/CNET

Screen protectors

Although most of these hours are designed with children in mind, not all of them have a built -in screen or thick cover. It is worth investing in a type of protection to increase smart watch opportunities for children in childhood.

The bottom line

There is no one solution that suits everyone when it comes to choosing a smart watch for your child, but you can narrow your options significantly by understanding the features that meet your needs. In the end, you should choose a smart watch that provides the jobs you need, as one of the parents, to stay in contact, with something that motivates your child. With the right watch, you may be able to delay the smartphone conversation for another for a few years.





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