Your child enters elementary school and begins to learn to tell the time? It’s time to give him his first watch!
To be reassured, do you want to equip it with a connected watch? Because of your working hours or because he has grown up and gained in autonomy, he goes to school or to his extra-curricular activities alone. However, even if you trust him, you prefer to be informed of his movements, without however switching to the cell phone right away. Indeed, before 11-12 years old, and entering college, it is not essential, even not recommended, because it can be forgotten, lost or stolen more easily than a wristwatch attached to the wrist.
Your child may also have a disability, and a smartwatch can help them with their daily tasks, without depending on an adult at their side at all times.
Many interactive watch models also offer games, a camera or to measure the physical constants of your budding athlete. The Je suis papa team has selected for you the best connected watches for children from 5 years old.
Smartwatches have multiple functions, some directly ensuring the safety of your offspring, such as geolocation or the SOS button, others are more of a gadget, such as taking photos or playing games for example. Here are the different criteria for selecting a connected watch, to be negotiated, or not, with your kids.
1 | The date and time
It may seem obvious, but a watch is above all made to tell the time! Moreover, for a child, being safe also means respecting schedules. From the age of 5, toddlers are generally able to read the time in digital form and, from the age of 7, on a needle clock. Depending on the model, the watches offer one or the other of the displays.
The alarm clock or alarm function is also very useful for teaching your child to become independent. Good habits so as not to be late for school, college, then high school, or for its various activities or appointments, are indeed acquired from an early age.
2 | Geolocation
Do you feel more serene when you know exactly where your toddler is? This is completely understandable. Your child may have already gotten lost in a market or on the street, and you don’t want to relive this anxiety. Then choose a watch with a GPS plotter. Depending on whether the integrated technology depends on the 2G, EDGE or 4G network, the geolocation is more or less precise, from a few tens of meters to around one kilometer. The important thing is above all that it is always operational.
Be careful, however, geolocation is made to reassure you and your child, but he also has the right to respect for his private life. Thus, his connected watch should not be a way for you to monitor him excessively. Indeed, this could harm their proper development and lead to abuse, as the CNIL reminds us in this document, which must be read before equipping your child with a connected watch. You will also discover how to protect your data, and therefore yours, from any malicious people who might want to hack them.
3 | The security perimeter
One of the possible options of a connected watch is to be able to define a perimeter within which your child can move. If he leaves this perimeter or does not take the defined route, you are warned by an alarm.
4 | The SOS button
Does your daughter or son feel in danger? If the watch has one, all he has to do is press the SOS button for 3 seconds for you to be alerted on your smartphone.
5 | The pedometer and the measurement of physical constants
Do you want to encourage your toddler to have regular physical activity? With a pedometer, he knows how many steps he takes per day. The watch also measures his heart rate, temperature, sleep stages, etc. This can be very useful if your child has a chronic illness that requires close monitoring.
6 | Calls and messages
Equipped with a SIM card, the connected watch acts as a mobile phone. You save a few numbers that your child can reach. The Internet connection also makes it possible to exchange written messages via a dedicated application. In general, this type of watch has a “school” mode equivalent to the “airplane” mode. Your child will still be able to read the time, and thus manage his time, but not be disturbed in his work or disrupt the class by an inopportune call.
7 | Compatibility with parents’ phone
Before rushing to a connected watch model, check its operating system. Most watches are Android or iOS compatible, but some are only compatible with one or the other. This is particularly the case for watches from the Apple brand, which can only be connected with an iPhone.
8 | Photos and videos
Like your smartphone, an interactive watch can be equipped with a camera. Thus, your budding artist can indulge in photography or video. Remember, however, to explain to him the right to the image if he has to film his comrades.
9 | games and apps
The watch is also an object for entertainment. Some are equipped with games, pre-installed or to be downloaded online. Without overdoing it, it can turn out to be a good pastime while waiting for your appointment with the orthodontist. There are also apps to help your child get organized on a daily basis (teeth brushing, appointment reminders, taking medication, etc.).
10 | Battery
As with any electronic device, your child’s smartwatch runs on a rechargeable battery. Its autonomy varies from one to a few days depending on the model and the use made of the watch. Connecting to 4G consumes a lot of energy, for example.
11 | The look of the watch and its handling
First or eleventh criterion? Regarding the design, it is certainly your child who will have a say, since it is he who will wear the watch on his wrist. As for its handling, it must be intuitive, via the buttons or its touch screen. But given how the little ones are able to manipulate any mobile phone or tablet, there is no reason that a connected watch puts them off.
Selection of the best connected watches for children?
Which children’s connected watch to choose? Discover our selection of the best connected watches with or without a GPS tracker, made by an informed mom and don’t hesitate to share your favorites in the comments.
1 | Connected watch Yonis GPS plotter: a touch screen for easy use
2 | VTech Kidizoom Smart Watch connect DX2 connected watch: interactive and fun for children
3 | Connected watch Yonis GPS tracker with beacon: perfect for little ones looking for autonomy
4 | Yonis Smartwatch connected watch: a GPS tracker to secure your child
5 | Garmin vivofit jr smartwatch. 3: with various activities allowing children to play
6 | Fitbit Ace 3 connected watch: a perfect bracelet for young athletes
And you, what do you expect from a connected watch for children? Share your feedback in the comments!