Garmin is one of the main contenders in the smartwatch field, so expectations were high when testing out its latest junior edition: the Vivofit jr.3. By wearing a watch, they can reach their step goals, with more advanced options tracking heart rate, too. Many of our children already partake in some form of sport, with more than 90 per cent of children between five and 16 years old consistently being involved with it.

Often coined a “phone watch”, these are appealing if you’re not quite ready to purchase a mobile for your child, but want to safely stay in touch with them.Ī smartwatch goes way beyond simply telling the time, although a bid to encourage timekeeping in our offspring shouldn’t be overlooked, many parents will also opt for a wearable tech gadget to encourage and track movement. Like a simplified version of a mobile phone, if you’re looking for a product that can offer those features, parents should bear in mind it’s likely you’ll need to source a sim card, which may incur extra monthly costs. The more premium smartwatches that provide GPS tracking and communication options can offer great reassurance for parents. Some go further and become much like a mobile phone, with GPS tracking, calls and some even enable you to do video calls.

Many of these kids smartwatches offer similar benefits to those for adults – activity tracking, goal setting and heart-rate monitoring. Like it or loathe it, if you’re a smartwatch wearer yourself, you’ve probably noticed an instant attraction from children, whether that’s fascination with the lights or asking about your step count.īut smartwatches are no longer strictly for adults, with a whole host of interactive watches designed with juniors in mind. A child’s first watch is a milestone, but like most childhood accessories, technology now plays a part.

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