What’s The Best Smartwatch For Kids?

Smartwatches are a great alternative to smartphones if you have young, active kids. The best smartwatches for kids on the market are wearable devices that offer educational and fun features like playing games while enabling parents to communicate with their children and monitor their safety. 

The best overall smartwatch for kids in 2023 is the TickTalk 4 smartwatch. This 4G/LTE smartwatch boasts HD video calls, safe messaging, GPS tracking, parental controls, reminders, do not disturb mode, activity tracking, emergency SOS and 911 calling.  

The best smartwatch brands for kids depend on your budget, the specific features you are after, your child’s age, durability, and comfort.

1. Best Overall Smartwatch For Kids: TickTalk 4

The TickTalk 4 is an advanced, all-in-one 4G/LTE smartwatch for kids. It works like a standalone mobile phone, without internet, games, or social media access, making it incredibly safe for children. In addition, it includes an outstanding range of features compared to most other smartwatches and appeals to kids and their parents.

Some basic information about TickTalk 4:

• Price: $189.99
• Target age: 5-12 years
• Built In GPS tracking: Yes
• Battery life: 62 hours with normal usage and 100+ hours of standby time
• Water resistant: Yes
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros 

• GPS location tracking
• Text messaging, Voice and video calls
• More than 20 parental controls, including a closed contact list
• SOS button
• Music and story streaming
• Step counter
• iHeartRadio Family is included

Cons

• You need a pay-as-you-go cellular service 
• Not compatible with Verizon or Sprint – only AT&T and T-Mobile
• No games
• Relatively expensive 
• No geofencing
• The watch is quite bulky

2. Best Budget-Friendly Smartwatch For Kids: Vtech KidiZoom® DX3

The KidiZoom DX3is the perfect smartwatch for parents on a budget, giving kids many decent features like games, personalizing their clockface, and setting daily reminders.

Some basic information about the KidiZoom® DX3:

• Price: From $42,99
• Target age: 4-12 years
• Built In GPS tracking: No
• Battery life: 2-3 days (if you put it off while not in use)
• Waterproof: No
• Drop/shockproof: Unsure

Pros 

• Long battery life
• Entertaining games and watching faces
• 50 different clock interfaces (or you can use a photo)
• Can play multiplayer games with other DX3 watches
• Includes a pedometer
• Includes a flashlight
• Can set daily reminders

Cons

• Transferring pictures from the watch can be tedious
• Not compatible with wireless networks
• No messaging or calls

3. Best Kids’ Smartwatch For Safety: T-Mobile SyncUP KIDS™ Watch

This smartwatch was primarily designed to help parents keep track of their children’s whereabouts and give kids the option to call for help with a simple touch of a button. However, the best feature of SyncUP KIDS™ is its geofencing functionality with virtual boundary alerts, always keeping parents aware of their children’s location.

Some basic information about the SyncUP KIDS™ smartwatch:

• Price: $174
• Target age: 5-10 years
• Built In GPS tracking: Yes
• Battery life: 24 hours
• Water resistant: Yes 
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Good battery life
• Real-time GPS tracking and geofencing 
• Can set tasks on the watch
• Alarm clock
• Durable and water-resistant
• Parent controls, including a pre-approved contact list
• 911 button
• Easy to set up
• Attractive design

Cons

• Limited functionality as a smartwatch
• You cannot schedule school mode – you must manually switch it on and off
• No Wi-Fi – only available through the T-Mobile network
• No video calling

Honorable mention: Angel Kids Watch

Although the Angel Watch isn’t the only kids’ smartwatch with GPS tracking and audio check-ins, it is one of the few that offers visual check-ins. If you need to see where your child is, you can view images remotely through the parent app. You can also dial a number that prompts this smartwatch to automatically call you back so you can listen in on your child’s environment. 

The Angel Watch even includes fall detection: if the watch senses that the child has fallen (sudden downward movement followed by stillness), it sends an alert to their SOS contacts.

4. Best Kids’ Smartwatch For Communication: Verizon GizmoWatch 2

This GizmoWatch 2 is only available for Verizon service customers and is primarily a communications and tracking tool that allows voice calls and text messages. One great communication feature is the Quick Dial, allowing your child to press a button that will immediately call the parent-designated emergency contact.

Some basic information about the GizmoWatch 2:

• Price: $99
• Target age: 6-12years
• Built In GPS tracking: Yes
• Battery life: 4 days
• Waterproof: Yes
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros

• Parent controls, including a pre-approved contact list
• Real-time location tracking
• Good call quality
• Software is easy to use
• Exceptional safety features
• It comes with a companion app for parents

Cons

• Limited to a Verizon cellular service plan
• No Wi-Fi compatibility
• Limited functionality
• No kid-friendly themes
• Missing a Do Not Disturb mode

5. Best Kids’ Smartwatch For Fun And Games: Kurio Watch 2.0

The aim of the Kurio Watch 2.0 is not to track activity and location but to engage kids in fun games. This smartwatch comes with 20 apps and games, such as Naughts & Crosses and Snake, that you can play alone or with other players.

Some basic information about the Kurio Watch 2.0:

• Price: $59,99 (list price)
• Target age: 6-12 years
• Built In GPS tracking: No
• Battery life: 1 day of normal usage and 240 hours of standby time
• Water resistant: No
• Scratch resistant: Yes

Pros

• Colorful interchangeable straps
• 20 pre-loaded apps
• Integrated camera
• The In Case of Emergency (ICE) app lets you add your contact information and blood type or allergy details.

Cons

• Very chunky
• Can’t connect to Wi-Fi

6. Best Fitness And Active Play Smartwatch For Kids: Garmin Vivofit Jr 3

This durable, waterproof fitness tracker is a smartwatch that encourages kids to be active. The Vivofit Jr 3 has a comfortable design and great tracking features (e.g., sleep monitoring, step counter, game unlocking based on daily activity, etc.). It also has a remarkable battery life of up to 1 year.

Some basic information about the Vivofit Jr 3:

• Price: $89,99
• Target age: 4-9 years
• Built In GPS tracking: No
• Battery life: 1 year
• Waterproof: Yes
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros

• One-year battery life
• Optional Disney and Marvel branding
• Character options from Marvel and Disney
• Swim proof
• Parents can manage activity goals
• Activity challenges, sleep tracking, and task reminders
• Adjustable band for smaller wrists 

Cons

• No GPS or geofencing
• The screen could be brighter
• No options to communicate
• Relatively small screen 
• Your child might outgrow the Disney or Marvel theme

Honorable mention: Spacetalk Adventurer 

Like many other fitness trackers and smartwatches, the Spacetalk Adventurer offers GPS location tracking, multiple ways for kids to communicate with others, and various parental controls and safety features. However, it stands out on the fitness front because it is incredibly durable, and you can monitor your child’s heart rate.

7. Best Smartwatch For Young Kids: Little Tikes Tobi™ Robot 

If you have a young child looking to engage through play, then the Tobi™ Robotsmartwatch is the perfect toy. It combines most of the interactive features of a smartwatch with an abundance of personality in the form of a moving robot that will have your child laughing, dancing, playing, and learning in no time!

Some basic information about the Tobi™ Robot smartwatch:

• Price: $54,99 (listing price)
• Target age: 4-8 years
• Built in GPS tracking: No
• Battery life: 5 days depending on usage
• Water resistant: No
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros

• Storage space allows 3,000 photos or 30 minutes of video content
• A lot of different games, including educational games
• Activity tracker
• A child can wear it on their wrist or belt

Cons

• No GPS tracking or geofencing
• No SOS button
• No communication option such as calling or messaging
• The battery only lasts 8 hours with continuous use 
• Not waterproof (splash-proof only)

8. Best Smartwatch For Older Kids And Teens: Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is an excellent option for teens and adults, with unlimited access to voice calls, text messaging, music streaming, social media services, and the internet. This smartwatch comes in a GPS-only or more costly GPS + Cellular version. A point to note is that the parental controls on this watch are not automatic – you must activate them manually. 

Some basic information about the Apple Watch SE:

• Price: From $279
• Target age: 12+ years
• Built in GPS tracking: Yes
• Battery life: 18-24 hours
• Waterproof: Yes
• Drop/shockproof: Yes

Pros 

• A full-featured smartwatch
• Thousands of available apps
• Streams music, podcasts, and audiobooks
• Great performance
• Comfortable and stylish design
• Clear and bright screen
• Advanced health features
• Reasonable price for what you are getting
• Variety of different apps
• Make Phone calls
• built in gps

Cons

• With the more basic GPS-only version, you need to have your iPhone nearby
• You can only activate parental controls manually
• A costly product should it break or go missing
• Limited to iOS phone support 
• Not easy for younger kids to use

Conclusion

Purchasing a smartwatch for your child is an excellent way to ease them into the world of technology without buying them a smartphone. Depending on your budget, you can get great smartwatches that your kids will enjoy and learn, with the bonus of allowing you greater control over the content they access, their whereabouts, and their contacts.