Related Articles
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers can be a great way to get kids up and moving, turning daily exercise into a real-life video game with stats and rewards. Parents can even set what their physical goals are, from fitness and meditation to chores, and input emergency contact information (as well as tracking) if their child gets lost or separated.
What Are the Best Smartwatches for Kids and Teens?
Here’s the breakdown of what to look for when picking out the best smartwatch for kids and teens.
Capabilities: The best smartwatches for kids vary pretty widely in terms of what they can do within fitness tracking, and range in extra features too, with everything from built-in cameras, step counters, Google Maps/GPS and flashlights, to games, speaker, music storage, FM radio, as well as texting and calling.
Battery Life:Depending on usage, these kids smartwatches generally can last a while on a single charge, ranging from about 7-10 days. The battery itself is also in it for the long haul, and is usually designed to last at least a year or more.
Durability:Waterproof or water-resistant IPX-rated watches can keep liquid damage at bay, and some are sealed to keep out sand and dirt too. A scratch-resistant coating can defend against face damage, so go for something that can stand up to the rough treatment it’ll get.
Band:Though it doesn’t have any direct control with what the watch can do, kids can be picky about colors and comfort if they’re wearing it every day. Most brands offer a wide array of straps and bands to choose from, so you can ensure it’s their favorite hue and pattern. An adjustable but snug wrist strap is also important since kids’ wrist sizes are going to change as they get older, so make sure it’s got room to grow.
Age Range: Teens are going to want different features than kids, like contactless payments, calendars, yoga and workout guidance, sleep and hydration tracking, skin temperature (for meditation and exercise), calorie counter, and storage for photos. If you’ll be buying this as a gift for a teen or tween, go for something that’s got an interface and abilities that’s going to fit their lifestyle.
And since the watch is attached to them, no more lost cell phones – as the “Find My Phone” feature is always a huge help.
