The Best Apple Watch Setup for Kids

As Apple continues to dominate the Smartwatch and Wearable Tech field, it has felt a little bit like children have been left behind. There isn’t an Apple Watch designed for children. In fact, many parents decide against opting for an Apple Watch while their child is young.

An Apple Watch works best when it is paired with an iPhone. Apple is a company that rewards customers for loyalty by making life easier when you pair devices. However, there is a downside when it comes to children having the Apple Watch. Many parents are reluctant to allow younger children to have an iPhone. As such, the Apple Watch market generally stays within the adult population.

Not anymore! The watch still needs an iPhone to allow it to work, but it is now possible to set up a child’s watch on a parent’s iPhone. As a parent, you control the watch and what apps your child downloads. You also are the pilot of other security features and parental controls that Apple allows within family sharing.

What is the Best Apple Watch Model for Kids?

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It is always tempting to go for the most up-to-date release of anything Apple-related. However, when it comes to an Apple Watch for your kids, you are better off opting for a cheaper model; this is where the new SE comes in handy. Children are prone to accidents and less careful with their devices; the lower price tag is advantageous. 

The features missing from the SE model compared to the Series 6 include the blood oxygen app and ECG app, which arguably children wouldn’t use. The SE does not have the Always-on display but does benefit from the Retina display. The SE is also only available in aluminum, whereas the Series 6 is available in stainless steel and titanium, which explains the price difference.

The Chip housed within the SE is the S5, while the Series 6 benefits from the S6. However, it is doubtful that your children will notice the difference enough to justify paying the higher price. This is why Apple Watch SE is a popular option among parents.

Read our full comparison of the Apple 6 and SE here.

Finding the right Apple Watch Strap for Your Kids

The Apple Watch SE comes with the standard watch strap options. These tend to come in different lengths, and many of these might be an excellent fit for your children. The newer strap available in the solo loop strap is ultra-comfortable to wear because there are no clasps and buckles. This is perfect for fairly active children as the silicon solo loop strap will fit snugly on their wrist.

These straps come in 9 different sizes, and Apple provides a printable measuring tool so you can order the perfect one. They also come in a range of different colors so that your child can show off their style. 

Best Kid-Friendly Apps and Apple Watch Features

A common concern for parents is that the watch will be a distraction. For a child, distracting technology leads to trouble at school or misuse of features and apps. It would be hard for children not to use the Calculator app during a math class or send messages to their friends when they should be attentive.

Fortunately, the SE has the Schooltime feature, which blocks everything but a basic watch face. The wearer can override this simply by turning the digital crown. It is great that the feature is easily switchable by the wearer because it allows your child to message or call if they need to. You will just be notified so you can check in with them that they hadn’t turned it off to cheat on their maths test!

All of the fitness features that adults love on their watches will be the same for kids. Tracking the number of steps walked every day, monitoring different types of workout modes such as running and cycling, and prompting the wearer to be less sedentary are all aspects that kids will enjoy or at least benefit from. The SE is also waterproof to 50m, and so your children can even track their swimming. 

Whilst your child might not yet need Apps such as email, they are likely to want to use the messaging and calling features. This is controllable with the Family Setup! You can ensure that they don’t make contact with strangers via the watch.

Why Now is a Great Time to Get Your Children Involved!

The Apple Watch SE is designed for people on a budget, or cautious parents. With the Family Setup available, this is the perfect time to get your child an Apple Watch because they no longer need to have their own iPhone, and you can have more control over the features of the Watch than parents have ever had before. 

Now is definitely the time to bring your children into the Apple Family!

Last Updated on February 3, 2022