Apple Watches are generally reckoned to be amongst the best smartwatches available. With a host of impressive functions, the Apple Watch gives wearers the opportunity to make calls, listen to music, track their workouts, use apps and much more – including telling the time!
But when it comes to choosing a smartwatch for your children, the question is whether an Apple Watch is really the way to go. The Apple Watch comes at a premium price, even if you choose an older model. If you’re wondering whether to choose one for your son or daughter, you need to consider whether it’s age-appropriate, whether it fits in your budget, and whether there are more affordable alternatives out there.
What Is An Apple Watch?
The first Apple Watch was launched back in 2015 and it is now in its fifth incarnation. Available in a range of styles, colours and sizes, all models all models can track the user’s daily activities and exercises like yoga, swimming and running, along with podcasts, gaming, music and more.
If you’re going to benefit from all the features of an Apple Watch, you need to sync it with your iPhone. This is something to bear in mind when deciding whether or not an Apple Watch is suitable for your child – most children under the age of 10 probably shouldn’t have access to a smartphone and so an Apple Watch isn’t going to be the right choice for your pre-teen either.
Some kids are careless and prone to breaking or losing items. Apple watches are pricey, so you don’t want to be paying for repairs or replacements on a regular basis.
Why Should I Buy An Apple Watch For My Child?
Having said all of the above, there are a number of reasons why you might want to consider investing in an Apple Watch for your son or daughter. For a start, they encourage your child to live in a healthy way, encouraging them to stand up more and exercise for a minimum of half an hour daily.
An Apple Watch can also help kids to burn more calories through a Move goal defined by the parent or the child themselves. Exercise challenges are a lot of fun for kids to take part in, and with lots of third-party apps which can persuade even the most inactive child to get off the couch and start moving, this is one of the most persuasive reasons to purchase an Apple Watch.
Another popular reason for parents to choose an Apple Watch for their child is the“Find My Friend”feature which gives parents the ability to track their child for safety purposes. When a child has an Apple Watch, you can also stay in constant communication through the walkie-talkie feature.
Which Apple Watch Is Best For My Child?
If you’re choosing a smartwatch for a teenager or responsible middle-school child, you may want to consider an older Apple Watch model. It probably isn’t worth buying one of the latest models or a brand-new device for your son or daughter due to its high cost. However, with all of the many benefits that come with such a fully functioning smartwatch, it could be worth the investment in the long-term.
Are There Alternatives To The Apple Watch?
If you feel that your child isn’t yet ready for an Apple Watch or you can’t afford the high cost, the good news is that there are several suitable kid-friendly smartwatches which will offer your kid plenty of functions and style – but without the complexity and expense of an Apple device.
VTECH Kidizoom
The VTech brand has been around for a long time now, and is synonymous with high-quality kid-friendly tech. This smartwatch is a great choice for younger kids who aren’t ready for an Apple Watch. The VTech Kidizoom has an inbuilt camera for taking videos and photographs as well as a customisable face, a timer, an alarm, inbuilt games and more. It doesn’t offer any fitness tracking functionality, but for any young child who wants to feel more mature, it’s a good option.
Garmin Vivofit Jr.2
If you want fitness tracking functions on your child’s smartwatch, the Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 is a great choice. It offers both a reward system and fitness tracker to teach your child about doing chores and living in a healthy way and it can sync with a parent’s smartphone for more control. With its long battery life and wide range of styles to choose from, it’s a good choice for younger kids, although older ones might find the games dull.
Summary
With every year, the Apple Watch moves closer to no longer requiring an iPhone to make it operational. At the moment, however, you still need a smartphone to set up and maintain this wearable device. For that reason alone it isn’t the best choice of smartwatch for kids – and the high cost will be an additional deterrent. However, with lots of other options on the market, your son or daughter can still enjoy excellent smartphone functionality with a different model.
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