The Best Smartwatches for Kids That’ll Keep You Both Connected

Smartwatches have become popular wearable pieces of tech that make our day-to-day lives substantially easier. And now, even your child can a hand (and a wrist) in on these fun accessories. Smartwatches for kids are specifically designed with younger age groups in mind and are less powerful and more affordable than regular smartwatches. They're packed full of apps and games to keep your little ones active and occupied, and some even have built-in cameras for snapping selfies. Others are full-fledged communication gadgets that support phone calls, texts, and GPS tracking.

Best Smartwatches for Kids

What to Consider

Getting a smartwatch can be a big step for a child, or it can just be for fun. It's up to the parents to determine how they want the smartwatch to be utilized and for what purpose. Is it just for fun, or is it a watch that you want your child to use with you or others? There are four main things to consider when you're looking to buy: age, features or functions, durability, and connectivity.

Age

This is arguably the most important metric to consider when it comes to smartwatches for kids. Younger kids need different things and are better fit for simple watches. But tweens and teens? They won't settle for anything less than what you or I would wear, so it's up to us to guide them to what is appropriate.

Features/Functions

Some of our favorite kids' smartwatches are fairly basic — and that's the beauty of them. They let you get the time, maybe play a few games, have a timer for chores or potty, and usually have a camera just for fun. The next step up includes features like connecting to your phone or wifi. A step up from that are fully-functional smartwatches.

Durability

Our parenting editor, Cat Bowen, will sing the praises of gear insurance for kids, especially teens. Since kids tend to scratch up and break things rather quickly, we recommend adding a protection plan or insurance policy to your purchase. Aside from that, you should also look for smartwatches that are waterproof or splashproof, with sturdy, scratch-resistant surfaces, and bands that can take a beating.

Connectivity

Most smartwatches for kids don't rely on a data connection, but for teens, we've listed a handful of smartwatches in this guide that do sync with smartphones or have an independent data connection so that your child can send messages with their loved ones.

A smartwatch for kids is also an excellent middle ground for little ones who are constantly begging for a smartphone. Our picks don't offer unrestrained access to the internet like a phone would and most aren't susceptible to data charges. Plus, they're much cheaper than smartphones. All of our recommended models will serve as an excellent transition for giving your child more independence with tech. Shop the best smartwatches for kids below to get your kids excited about getting active.