Q&A: Should I get my child a smartwatch?

Welcome to Techno Sapiens! I’m Jacqueline Nesi, a psychologist and professor at Brown University, co-founder of Tech Without Stress, and mom of two young kids.

We’re back with a brand new Q&A today! If you’re in a rush, scroll to the bottom of this post for a quick summary.

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My kids are in elementary school, and a lot of their friends are starting to get smartwatches. This is not something that was ever on my radar, but I see the appeal! Any research on…anything about this?

I’ve been getting many versions of this question recently, ranging from exasperated (I was prepared for the smartphone talk, but now I have to deal with *this*?!) to hopeful (Could this be the solution I’ve been looking for?)

Smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular among kids. This may be partially driven by parents wanting to delay getting their children phones, and coincides with more kid smartwatch options on the market.¹

Should you get your child one?

I wish (just once!) the answer were a simple yes or no. That the research was clear and definitive. That smartwatches were proven to be dangerous, and we should avoid them at all costs. Or, alternatively, that they were risk-free and guaranteed to turn our children into Nobel Prize winners.

Alas, here at Techno Sapiens we must operate in the real world of parenting, where nothing is so simple. Instead, the best we can do is review the evidence, talk through the considerations, and try to make the right choices for our families.

So, let’s get to it!

Let’s get smarter on smartwat—I’m sorry. I’ll see myself out.

First, the basics. A smartwatch is a wrist-worn, miniature computer, typically with a touch screen. Some smartwatches are marketed specifically for kids (e.g., Gizmo Watch, Cosmo JrTrack, Gabb Watch, Fitbit Ace), while others are also for adults (e.g., Apple Watch), but can be set up with parental controls.²

Generally, kid smartwatches are designed for children ages 8-13, though some families get them a bit earlier or later.

The features available on smartwatches vary widely. Some are essentially a wearable smartphone. Other, kid-specific smartwatches will do little more than call or text pre-specified contacts and (of course) tell time. They are typically less expensive than smartphones, and, because they’re attached to the wrist, theoretically less likely to end up in the school’s lost-and-found.³

How should I start to think about this?

Here’s how I would approach this.

Start by thinking about your why. Why does your child want a smartwatch, or why do you want one for them? What tasks do you need this mini computer to accomplish for you? Maybe you want to communicate with your child, for example, if there’s a change in plans or they’re ready to be picked up. Maybe you want to track their location. Maybe you want a smartphone alternative for your tween or early teen, so they can stay in the loop with friends.

Now, think about the opposite. What do you not want this device to do? Maybe it’s no social media or distracting games, no fitness tracking, or no contact with people you haven’t specifically approved in advance.

[Note that this is relevant for adults considering their own smartwatches, too.]

What are my options?

Now, let’s take a look at some of the features that various smartwatches offer. When choosing a watch (or not), you’ll want to decide whether each of these features fits with your “why.”

Calling and texting

• Contacts. Is this limited to pre-approved contacts? Is the number of contacts limited?

• Parent-side app. Does communication with the smartwatch need to occur within a specific app that parents need to download? Some parents find this to be a hassle, others don’t mind.

• Call sound. For calls, will the sound play “out loud”? Is there the option to connect bluetooth headphones?

• Group texts. Are group texts possible?

• Message types. Is there a small keyboard? Or are texts limited to “pre-set” messages? How about voice messages?

• Video calls. Are video calls possible?

Entertainment (and distraction)

• Camera. Does it have a camera? Can it send photos or videos?

• Music. Does it offer music? Where is music accessed? Does it require extra fees?

• Games. Does it have games? Will these games be a distraction?

• Fitness. Does it have fitness tracking (e.g., steps, movement)?

• Web access. Does it offer access to other websites or apps, including social media or YouTube?

• Notifications. Is there an option to silence notifications? (Some watches offer a “school mode”)

Location-tracking

• GPS options. How can parents view the child’s location? (i.e., via a separate app on your device? Via the iPhone “Find My’ app? etc.)

• Alerts. Does it offer alerts if the child leaves a specified location?

Other considerations

• Price. This is obviously a big one. Prices can range anywhere from $65 to $250+ for the device, plus monthly service fees.

• Durability. Related to the above, if you’re shelling out money on a smartwatch, you’ll likely want to make sure it’s not going to break as soon as your child gets their hands (wrist) on it.

• Parental controls. Most smartwatches designed for kids offer some kind of parental controls. This may involve limiting contacts, inappropriate content, or screen time. Perhaps counterintuitively, smartwatches that offer more features (like the Apple Watch) may actually offer more parental control options than less feature-heavy options.

• Charge length. Some smartwatches require charging every day (or night). This may or may not work for you.

• Privacy. Sorting through company privacy policies, including how kids’ data is handled, is complicated. Common Sense media privacy reviews can be a good place to start.

• School policy. Look into your child’s school policy before taking the plunge. Many schools have started banning smartwatches.

• Alternatives. Would an alternative device be better suited to your needs? If you’re just looking to track your 7-year-old’s location, for example, maybe an AirTag or Tile Mate will get the job done. If you’ve got a tween or teen who is going to be sending a lot of texts, a tiny smartwatch keyboard may not be sufficient.

The bottom line

I have not tested every smartwatch on the market, so for specific product recommendations, I will direct you to my closest friend and confidante, Wirecutter,⁴ and specifically, this article on the best smartwatches for kids.

Here’s what they recommend:

• Best smartwatch for younger kids: Verizon Gizmo Watch 3

• Best smartwatch for older kids: Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular

It’s also worth noting that families’ preferences (and kids’ behaviors) are highly specific, so it can be difficult to know what works for you until you actually try a device.

Because of this, if you’re going to take the plunge with a smartwatch purchase, I recommend framing to your child as a trial period: something you will test out for a few weeks to see if it is working for you and them, with a plan to revisit and make a decision at the end of it.

The research (or lack thereof)

Leading with the punchline: there is no evidence that getting your child a smartwatch is harmful. Nor is there evidence that getting them a smartwatch is necessary or beneficial.

In short, we’ve got very little to go off of here.

Here’s what we can say from the research. When it comes to social media, specifically, younger adolescents (pre-teen and early teen) seem to be more vulnerable to its negative effects. This depends on many factors—how they’re using it, what rules and limits parents have in place—but in general, it can make sense to delay social media access, for pre-teens especially.

When it comes to smartphones, the evidence is mixed. Some studies find that when kids get smartphones earlier, it negatively affects future well-being. Others find no impacts at all. I would generally err toward the simplest (“dumbest”) device that will meet your family’s needs.

And when it comes to smartwatches, in particular? Basically: nada.

Research documents potential benefits of kids’ smartwatches (e.g., promoting physical activity, supporting parent-child communication), but there’s really no data proving these benefits actually play out.

We can also surmise potential risks and challenges, based on other tech research (and common sense). These might include distraction, overuse, and exposure to problematic content or contacts.

We do have some research on location tracking, which is a popular component of smartwatches. A recent review suggests anywhere from 33-69% of parents of kids and teens have tracked their child’s location. Parents who do are aiming for safety, peace of mind, and ease. Parents who don’t are concerned about privacy and kids’ independence. Again, no right answer here, but my take is that as long as tracking is used as a tool for convenience, not surveillance (i.e., no spying!), it can work just fine for many families.

Over time, we’ll accumulate more research on smartwatches, but this will only get us so far. Smartwatches vary a lot in the features they offer (see above). Kids vary a lot in how they’ll use them. Parents vary a lot in how they’ll approach this. Like with other devices, the decision will be about weighing the pros and cons, and maximizing benefits (while minimizing risks), depending on your child’s age and needs.

You do you

Should you get your child a smartwatch? I regret to inform you, techno sapiens, that the answer is a big, fat it depends.

For some kids, a smartwatch is a fantastic option. For others, it will create more challenges than it’s worth. For many, it’s probably somewhere in the middle.

If a smartwatch is interfering with your child’s in-person connections with you or others, if it’s distracting them during the school day, if it’s causing lots of conflict with you or hindering their independence (because, say, you’re tracking their every move): it’s not a good fit. Alternatively, if it’s encouraging communication with you and others, allowing them to independently roam the neighborhood, offering a convenient alternative to a smartphone, or something else that works for your family: it’s a win.

If you decide to get your child a smartwatch, as with any new device, set yourself up for success. Designate a “trial period” to see how it goes, and revisit at the end of it. Communicate regularly and opening about what’s working and what’s not. Set clear expectations and rules, and adjust them as needed.

And then sit back and wait. The Nobel Prize committee should be calling soon.

Summary for busy sapiens

• Kid smartwatches are designed for ages 8-13, but some families get them a bit earlier or later.

• Smartwatches like the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 are designed specifically for kids; the Apple Watch is designed for adults, but can be set up with parental controls

• Features to consider: communication (texts and calls), location-tracking, entertainment (games, camera, music), cost

• There’s very little research on smartwatches, and every family is different. If a smartwatch is hindering communication or independence, distracting from learning, or causing conflict: it’s not a good fit. If it’s benefitting communication, convenience, and independence, it’s a win.

• Set yourself up for success. If you decide to get a smartwatch, designate a “trial period” to see how it goes, set expectations, and communicate regularly.

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1. I hope the timing of this post is relevant, since I know some families are considering smartwatches as holiday gifts. My children are not old enough, but we are certainly in the throes of buying all the holiday things. I’ve been trying to counteract this spirit of overconsumption. While decorating our tree the other day, I told my 3 year old that Christmas is all about giving—giving to people who aren’t lucky enough to have the things we have, giving gifts to the people we love, etc. He thought about it for a moment, and replied, “I don’t want to do that.” Anyway! Here’s last week’s post on encouraging gratitude in kids, while I’ll be revisiting often.

2. My own experience with a smartwatch is limited to one instance, many years ago, when I was purchasing a new phone and was unwittingly upsold on an accompanying Apple Watch. The store employee assured me I’d be able to listen to Spotify via the watch without tethering to my phone, and when I returned home eager to fire up a podcast for my next run, this turned out to be false. (Note that this feature has since changed). I returned the watch, and spent the next 6 months trying to remove the monthly service charge from my phone bill. Ah, memories! For what it’s worth, I think I’m finally ready to give it another try.

3. To be clear, I’ve heard many, many stories of lost smartwatches, so wrist-wearing is not the panacea we might hope. They do have to be taken off to charge, which—I’ve been told—is their downfall.

4. I have been influenced to buy more items from Wirecutter than just about anywhere else on the Internet. Recent purchases include: socks that look like sushi and a puzzle of pooping puppies (for a white elephant exchange), my favorite Owala water bottle, and this nut butter mixer, which I have not yet used, but for which I have extremely high hopes.