10 Best Smartwatches For Kids & Tweens in 2024
Published: | Updated:
There are a lot of kids and tweens smartwatches on the market. If you’re looking for the best smartwatch for kids then you’re going to want to know what the pros and cons of each are, not to mention whether the features are what you and your child need.
With so many to choose from, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best smartwatches for kids and tweens to just a few options. We’ll look at each other more closely later on too, such as fitness functionality, standalone calling, and all other key features along the way.
Looking for something more specific to GPS tracking? Check out our guide on the best kids’ GPS watches & trackers in the market right now.
Smartwatches for kids – Top Best Options in 2024
Things To Consider Before Getting Smartwatches For Kids
Fast forward today, watches are more than just a timepiece. Merely telling the time is the least that smartwatches can do. Nowadays, kids can play games on their watch, or sync their watch with their smartphone so they never miss that text from mum or dad telling them to come home because their dinner is nearly ready. Most of them even allow you to even set alarms and create to-do lists for your child.
But most importantly, smartwatches are not just about fun and games. As a busy parent with a lot on your plate, you don’t want to tie yourself down with monitoring your child all the time, right? You may be tempted to coop your kids up close to you instead of letting them go out and have fun, but they’ll get bored and end up throwing fits that will make the situation at home worse.
Having a standalone smartwatch for your kid also means that you won’t have to buy a smartphone to stay in touch! Most standalone smartwatches now come with calling features as well, so it’s perfect if you’re trying to limit your child’s screen time. Also, children smartwatches these days usually come with fitness & healthy habit-forming features that can make living healthy fun for any child.
With all the technological advancements that have been happening in the wearable tech space, kids these days have it good. If you are thinking about buying your kid a smartwatch, be it for their birthday, to stay connected, for safety reasons, or as a special treat, you’re at the right place! We’ve compiled a guide of the best smartwatches for kids and teenagers for you to consider.
The list will cover the best smartwatches for both safety and entertainment. So, let’s get started!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which mean we may make a commission if you click through and buy something, at no additional cost to you.
In detail – 10 Best Smartwatches For Kids & Tweens
Garmin Vivofit JR 2 Fitness Tracker
Best for fitness tracking, parenting assistant with gamified tasks.
Pros
- Super-rugged design, wearable 24/7
- Marvel and Disney designs available
- Great gamification and reward features
Cons
- No GPS
- No communication features
The Garmin Vivofit JR 2 comes in a number of colorful kid-friendly color schemes, including Disney and Marvel designs: your kid can have a Frozen Elsa or Anna, Captain America, Star Wars, or Spiderman designs. The watch is swim-proof, shower-proof, and shock-resistant, and comes in two strap-types: adjustable watch strap, or a stretchy silicone band.
It doesn’t have GPS or and communication features, so you won’t know the location of your kids when they’re out of sight or be able to call them. But it does have good brownie points reward system in the app. You can program in tasks for your kids to do (brush their teeth, do their homework, etc.), and when they’ve done it they earn a point which shows up on the watch.
Verdict
- Value: Good
- Build: Very Durable and Longlasting
- Design: Cute, kids will love it
- Functionality: Good
Tick Talk 3.0 Kids Smartwatch
Best for GPS tracking and communication
Pros
- GPS tracking
- Video calls
- 4G and WiFi connectivity
- Splash-proof
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Only two color schemes
- Not suitable for swimming
The Tick Talk 3.0 has all of the essential features of a smartphone, without the additional non-kid-friendly ones. This means you’re getting real-time GPS and full cellular connectivity, along with Wi-Fi and historical GPS recording. This is great if your little one likes to go off on adventures, or if you don’t have the time to be always watching them. The GPS can track them up to 10ft of precision, and you’re always able to video call them to tell them to come home. The historical GPS data also lets you see where they’ve been during the day.
There’s an IP67 water resistance rating (good for showering and bathing with but not suitable for swimming). The watch module is wrapped in a durable polycarbonate shell for shock resistance so it can take a beating (that’s important because we know how rowdy kids are)! Although there are only two colors available (black or white), there are seven different custom watch straps to buy, including an eccentric rainbow print.
Verdict
- Value: Good
- Build: Very Durable
- Design: Cute and fashionable
- Functionality: Excellent
VTech Kidizoom SmartWatch DX2
Best for entertainment and media
Pros
- Augmented reality games
- Selfie camera
- Customizable watch face
- Local storage for media
Cons
- No communication features
- No GPS
The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 is a smartwatch for younger children. Some may question the need for a child as young as five to have a smartwatch. However, the Kidizoom is a fun device that will keep younger children occupied with a plethora of entertainment features.
It features a selfie camera, so your child can have fun taking photos and/or customizing the photos for bespoke watch faces. It has a voice recorder so your child can make their own alarms and notifications. It has pre-installed videos, for learning and fun. And, one of the coolest features, is that it has in-built augmented reality monster-catcher game!
The downside of this watch is that it is quite childish and not so appropriate for the older tweens. In addition to this, it doesn’t have a GPS or communication features, which means the Kidizoom isn’t the watch you’ll be using to keep track of your kids or call them home for dinner.
Verdict
- Value: Great
- Build: Okay
- Design: Cute and customizable
- Functionality: Good
iGPS Wizard GPS Tracking Phone Smartwatch
Best cheap device for tracking and communicating
Pros
- GPS
- Communication features
- Geofencing proximity alarms
- One-touch SOS call
Cons
- No video calling
- Only one cellular option and no sim card
The iGPS Wizard is a cheaper device that’s capable of tracking and communicating with. It’s packed full of these features but comes at a lower price. Particular to this watch, however, is the option to set up geofencing in the app, and a ‘Take Me Home’ option for your kid. This means you can set a perimeter around your neighborhood, for example, and if your child leaves it, then you’ll be notified, and you can call them home.
The downside is that you can only use one mobile provider: iGPS themselves. This means you can’t switch out a sim card for better options, and you’re tied into their contract: 300 minutes, unlimited SMS and GPS a month.
Verdict
- Value: Excellent
- Build: Sturdy
- Design: Suitable for young children
- Functionality: Fantastic
Pebble Time – Recommended for 10-year-olds or above
The Pebble Time is a really well designed and affordable smartwatch for a 10-year-old or above
Pros
- Always active display
- Long-lasting 7-day battery life
- Pebble Appstore
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons
- May only be suitable for older kids
The Pebble Time can actually be a smartwatch for adults, but if you’re looking to get something for your older kids then this is a very good option.
Firstly, the Pebble Time has an always-active screen, which means your information is available to you at a glance. This means you can just twist your wrist, and there’s your data: notifications, calendar events, calls, and more.
Secondly, the Pebble Time has built-in activity and sleep trackers, along with a full suite of other health-tracking features. Which all make the Pebble a great option for your sporty tween.
Lastly, the Pebble has 7-day battery life. So, alongside homework, school, and their social life, your tween won’t have to worry about recharging all the time.
Verdict
- Value: Amazing
- Build: Robust
- Design: Modern
- Functionality: Fantastic
- Recommended Age: 10+
LeapFrog LeapBand Smartwatch
Best for parenting assistant, nurturing good habits and entertainment
Pros
- Virtual pet to look after
- Points system for completing chores
- Lots of in-built games
- Parental assistant
Cons
- No GPS
- Fragile design
The LeapFrog LeapBand is all about teaching your child new skills and healthy habits. You can set tasks for your child and reward them with the in-built points system or get them to do one of the 50 active lifestyle challenges to earn their points. If your little ones earn enough then they can play the extra LeapBand games – like Pet Boogie and Fun Run.
The LeapBand comes with a virtual pet for your child (with 8 pets to choose from). They have to look after and care for it (similarly to a Tamagotchi), and being a good pet owner will earn your child extra points.
For the other key features, the LeapFrog LeapBand is a resistant waterproof smartwatch, has a large hi-resolution screen, and uses large buttons to make it easy to use for your child. It’s perhaps the most suitable smartwatch for any little kid.
Verdict
- Value: Good
- Build: Quite Fragile
- Design: Kiddy, suitable for younger children
- Functionality: Okay
YENISEY Kids Smartwatch
Very easy to use with no complicated apps
Pros
- Built-in MP3 player
- Selfie camera
- Low cost
Cons
- No GPS
- No additional apps
The YENISEY Kids Smartwatch is a very low-cost alternative to some of the other watches on this list, which makes it ideal if you’re watching your budget.
One impressive feature of the YENISEY is that it has an in-built MP3 player, which means your child can listen to music on the go. It also has a selfie camera for photos and 7 in-built games.
The YENISEY can make two-way calls also, so if you need to get in contact with your kid or tween then you can. It can also store up to 10 contacts in its address book.
The downside to the YENISEY is that it doesn’t have GPS, which means you can’t track your child if they’re out. In addition to this, the YENISEY doesn’t allow for the installation of new apps, which means its functionality will always be limited – not ideal as your child grows older.
Verdict
- Value: Great
- Build: Regular
- Design: Modern looking
- Functionality: Basic
Kurio Watch 2.0 Kids Entertainment Smartwatch
Best for fun and games for children aged 6 to 10
Pros
- Music player
- Glow and lighting effect
- Kids vitals data
- Very cheap
Cons
- Not iPhone compatible
- Not swim-proof
- No GPS
The Kurio 2.0 comes with 20 different apps out of the box, has a selfie camera and photo editor (so you can add frames, effects, or funny costumes), lets you listen to music, and has some cool motion sensor games.
The fun doesn’t stop there, with built-in lights and a Glow mode, where you can put on your own light show and DJ dance party with music. You can also set the lights as a mood sensor.
One great safety feature of the Kurio 2.0 is that you can put in your children’s health and vital information, so if they’re ever taken to hospital then their allergies etc. will be there and readily available.
The watch itself is a rugged smartwatch, scratch-resistant and splash-proof. However, one thing to be aware of is that it doesn’t work with iPhone.
Verdict
- Value: Great
- Build: Quite fragile
- Design: Kiddish looking
- Functionality: Fantastic
Fitbit Ace 2
Best for nurturing good habits, fitness, and sleep tracking
Pros
- World-class fitness tracking capabilities
- Comfortable & stylish
- Swim-proof
- Great battery life
Cons
- No communications
- No GPS
The Fitbit Ace 2 takes a fitness-focused approach to the kid’s smartwatch. While it does not come with GPS support, the Fitbit Ace 2 incorporates Fitbit’s activity and sleep monitoring features that are extremely accurate. It comes with bedtime reminder features and silent alarms so it can help develop great sleeping habits (very rare these days).
Also read: Best Fitbit For Kids: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
The smartwatch also has an in-built challenges feature that allows your little one to earn badges for certain achievements they’ve completed. If your kid has other friends using Fitbit Ace 2, they can also issue fitness challenges and send messages to each other – which helps promote a healthier, more active lifestyle.
The Fitbit Ace 2 is also great if your kid is a born swimmer. The watch itself is swim-proof up to 50 meters in-depth, which is the highest on this list. It’s available in Grape, Watermelon, and Night Sky color schemes so there’s something for everyone. You might think that battery life would be sub-par with so many useful features, but the Fitbit Ace 2 has a very respectable 5-day battery life.
Verdict
- Value: Very Good
- Build: Long-lasting
- Design: Stylish and cool looking
- Functionality: Great
ProGrace Kids Smartwatch
Best for all-round use but no GPS tracking. Fantastic value.
Pros
- Surprisingly accurate fitness tracking
- Camera built-in
- FM radio
- Helps promote exercise
Cons
- No communications
- No GPS
- Needs an SD card to maximize utility
At the time of writing this guide, the ProGrace kids smartwatch is one of the best kids smartwatches in the market, especially if your child has not had a smartwatch before. Why do we say that? Simple, it’s a great all-round watch and best of all, very cheap. Starting at below $30, this smartwatch comes with a plethora of features.
There’s an audio music player built-in, FM radio, a camera, flashlight, activity tracker, and comes with multiple games that will keep your child entertained for weeks and even months on end. If you want to make the most out of the watch, you would have to add on an SD card into the watch so your kid can indulge in taking selfies and listen to music. It also comes with a larger than usual battery life, at 600mAh – your kid can go about 2 weeks in a single charge.
Verdict
- Value: Fantastic
- Build: Okay, not great
- Design: Modern looking, your kid will love it
- Functionality: Great
So, which smartwatch should You get for your kid?
All the ones listed in this list are all great options. We’ve scoured the internet for all the options and made sure that there’s something for every scenario here! So at the end of the day, it really depends on what kind of features you need.
If your priority is to foster healthy habits in your kid, Garmin Vivofit JR 2, ProGrace and Fitbit Ace 2 are both excellent options. They’re really good in this space.
Looking to keep your child safe? Be prepared to shell out a little bit more. For this, iGPS Wizard is solid in the first place, TickTalk 3.0 is also a great option but we think it is a little bit lacking in the security department.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a fun and entertaining smartwatch for your child, we highly recommend getting the Kurio 2, ProGrace, or VTech Kidizoom DX2 Smartwatch.
We hope this guide helps! If you’ve had any experience with any of these smartwatches, we’d love to hear from you. Leave us a comment down below.
