How to choose the best smartwatch for your child

If you’re not sure where to start when buying the best kids’ smartwatch or you want to know more about which features to look out for, we’ve outlined the most important criteria to consider.

Durability and design

The best smartwatch for kids should be one that fits comfortably on smaller wrists and looks good enough to wear with pride. Many models in our list of best kids’ smartwatches offer a range of colors and patterns to help your child express their personality. Beyond the aesthetic, look for lightweight, durable designs, preferably with elastomer bands that are easy to clean, allowing your children to play with abandon.

Features

The features to look for when buying the best smartwatch for kids depend on what you – or your child – need it to do. Want to keep them active? Opt for the Garmin or Fitbit models in our list, or choose any kids’ smartwatch from a brand that specializes in fitness trackers for adults.

Are your kids more interested in using the watch for entertainment or learning? The VTech and Kurio models are the way to go. Bluetooth features are necessary for updates and helping the watch sync with apps on phones, and Wi-Fi is occasionally desirable for some online features but 4G connectivity isn’t a must-have.

If safety is your prime concern, buy a smartwatch with the added security of geofencing features and notifications. These will alert you when your child enters, or leaves, a safe space and some can alert the authorities, too. As with all gadgets, make sure you keep the software on the watch, and the app, up-to-date to keep it safe from security flaws.

Battery life

The more sensors a smartwatch has, the more power it needs and this can drastically reduce battery life. Sadly, this is just a fact of modern life so you need to weigh up whether you want to be charging the watch every night for a feature-packed watch or are happy to forsake these features for weekly charges. At the very least, though, a smartwatch should last a full day of school and preferably into the evening.

How much should I spend?

As we’ve already mentioned, a kid-friendly smartwatch is a good way to introduce your child to the world of gadgets and social media. With this in mind, you’re not necessarily going to want to spend a great deal of money on an entry-level wearable. Many of the entries in our roundup fall well below the £100 mark, with some costing as little as £40 or £50. At the other end of the spectrum, you can find more advanced smartwatches for around £150, but you should rarely ever have to pay any more than this.



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