The 7 Best Smartwatches For Kids, According To Parents And Their Kids

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: Yes | Music: Yes | Camera: Yes | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes, two | Games: A few built-in options

Pros:

• Camera for video calls
• Lots of features including curated music streaming
• Solid battery life for all its uses

Cons:

• Per-month unlimited data plans are pricey
• Not as widely adopted so won’t be able to connect with peers as much as other options

The TickTalk 5 is a do-it-all type of smartwatch that my elementary-aged child was drawn to primarily because of its camera and ability to do video calls with me. There is a camera app so the watch can be used for selfies and pictures of pets, but the upward facing camera is mostly ideal for video chats to select contacts.

Another feature my daughter called out to me was the TickTalk 5’s ability to play music with the built-in iHeartRadio app. The music selection includes songs from Disney and Netflix Kids, Kidz Bop and other curated choices. Of course, video calls and music listening chew through battery if done for too long, but I found the TickTalk5 to be fairly robust with battery life and be able to handle all the activities it provides to children. It also offered some of the most detailed GPS tracking of the batch we tested, locating a 9-year-old tester nearly down to his seat at a large sporting arena (Barclays Center) while other kids smartwatches located kids in the general area.

The tradeoff is that the watch is chunky. My daughter recognized it wasn’t as sleek as other watches, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to wear it. And another of our testers, a 9-year-old boy, called the look “cool,” though it didn’t feel as smooth on his wrist as the Gizmo Watch 3. 

To keep the watch connected requires an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM (pre-installed) and a minimum of $10 per month. If you want more than 1GB of data per month, it may be $16 or more per month.

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: No | Music: Yes | Camera: No | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Yes but only if you download them

Pros:

• A full-featured smartwatch
• Syncs seamlessly with iMessages 
• Streams music, podcasts and has plenty of app access

Cons:

• Expensive
• No camera or video calling

With the release of iOS 17 for iPhone and watchOS 10, the Apple Watch For Your Kids feature (formerly Family Setup) allows parents to control a child’s Apple Watch, without having to give them an iPhone too. The GPS + Cellular version of the watch gets its own phone number, but parents can control who a child can communicate with, limit access to features during school hours and track a child’s location in real-time. So, if you’re buying an Apple Watch SE for a kid, you’ll need to go with the GPS + Cellular version, since the GPS-only version is limited in its capabilities without a nearby iPhone. It requires a cellular service plan (typically around $10 per month) to ensure the smartwatch can place calls, send texts and so on.

Both my son and daughter have used Apple Watches and both liked the full-breadth of what they offer. My daughter pointed out that she liked that it had the most things to do and allowed her to be part of regular iMessage group texts with friends. To note, since there’s nothing inherent about the Apple Watch SE that makes it strictly for kids, parental controls need to be activated and setup upon buying it, including possibly setting up pre-approval for the addition of any contacts and time limits on apps.

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: Yes | Music: No | Camera: Yes | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Yes

Pros:

• Video calling and camera options
• Longer battery life than previous model
• Interactive features that kids like

Cons:

• Contacts limited to 20
• Available only on Verizon

Available only to Verizon cellular service customers, the new Gizmo Watch 3 offers a robust smartwatch without access to the Internet. It includes a School Mode (to restrict use during certain times), location tracking, video calling, texting and voice messaging. A parent can pre-program up to 20 contacts for the wearer to communicate with and can use the watch’s GPS tracker to see the location of their child via the app. There are some added features, including step counting, an option to schedule Quiet Mode and to-do list functionality. The Gizmo also prevents kids from installing outside apps but comes with a few games like Tic Tac Toe. This version offers 80 percent more talk time (up to 4.5 hours) and up to 20 percent more standby time per charge (up to 3.6 days).

“I think the Gizmo 3 is a great smartwatch for kids under age 10, especially if they have friends who also wear the Gizmo,” says Rose Gordon Sala, a Forbes Vetted deputy editor, who extensively tested the new Gizmo Watch 3 and previously had purchased two of the Gizmo 2 watches. “My 9-year-old can easily request to add ‘Gizmo Buddies’ as contacts whenever their watches are near each other, saving me from manually adding in each of his friends. He also loves the camera, games and step counter.” Sala also notes that this third gen Gizmo Watch has fewer connectivity issues, a longer battery and stronger GPS tracking compared to the previous model.

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: No | Music: No | Camera: No | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Fitness-related ones

Pros:

• Lots of games that use their whole body
• Simplified interface with 2 buttons (contacts and games)
• Nice display with enough on-screen customization options

Cons:

• Lacks video calling and camera
• The games may be distracting for some kids

Out of all the smartwatches and activity trackers featured within this roundup, I think the Fitbit Ace LTE from Google has the best great mix of features with an interface geared toward kids. Plus, because it’s from Fitbit, all the games are interactive and fitness-based. Its emphasis is keeping younger ones active. Kids unlock new games and levels once they reach certain move goals throughout the day. My daughter liked that you have to move your whole body to control the games on the screen. For the golfing one, for example, you swing your arms. I could often hear her using it in the other room… with effort.

As the name suggests, there is LTE connectivity, so kids can call or text when they’re away from home. This also allows parents to locate them with the Fitbit Ace app. Like most kids smartwatches, all calls and messages go through the app, instead of regular SMS, texts from children won’t show up on your phone the way other messages do. Kids also can’t be added to standard group chats. They’ll mostly only be able to connect to other pre-approved adults in their lives who download the app.  Still, needing to use the app means there’s almost no chance of them being tricked into texting strangers or sharing their contact info.

The Ace LTE is modern, sleek and comfortable to wear—my daughter commented on that point several times. It’s not as full featured as an Android Wear watch, Apple Watch or even the Gizmo or TickTalk, but it’s not meant to be. It’s great at keeping kids connected and moving.

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: No | Music: No | Camera: No | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Extremely limited

Pros:

• Safe Zones alert parents when a child arrives or departs specific locations
• Variety of texting options, not just preset messages
• Built in SOS/emergency notification feature

Cons:

• No photo capabilities
• Full savings comes with longer contracts

The Gabb Watch 3 offers a number of ways to make it one of the most affordable kid smartwatches. Its full price is $150 and you’ll need to pay about $15 per month for unlimited cellular service on a one-year contract. However, if you sign up for longer contracts, the monthly fee decreases and the smartwatch is currently free on Gabb’s site when purchased with a plan. The watch is out of stock at other retailers.

The Gabb Watch 3 improves upon its predecessor: the Gabb Watch 2. It still offers unlimited calling and text messaging and the ability to send pre-composed text messages. But now there’s a software keyboard, speech-to-text and more methods for communication at all ages built in. Its top glass is stronger, and the whole device gets better dust and water-resistance. The phone offers voice calling (no video calling) and now with up to 100 pre-approved contacts (much more than most kids smartwatches). Additional features include custom wallpapers, a calculator, a step and activity tracker and a virtual pet they can take care of, similar to a Tamagotchi.

“The Gabb Watch is purposely limited, which could appeal to parents who don’t want their kids to have access to games, the Internet or a camera,” says Sala whose 11-year-old tested the watch for several months. “My tween was disappointed in the lack of camera and games, but it does offer an extended contact list and they can craft their own texts, not just rely on presets. We found the initial setup frustrating, though, the battery life disappointing (it sometimes died before the school day was out) and the step counter was never accurate.” 

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: Yes but limited to parents/guardians | Music: No | Camera: Yes, two | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Yes

Pros:

• Robust smartwatch designed for kids
• Built-in camera
• Unlimited contacts

Cons:

• Geolocation boundaries can lag
• Not fully waterproof

Like most of the advanced smartwatches, the T-Mobile SyncUp Kids Watch has real-time location tracking, approved contacts (unlimited), geolocation boundaries, texting, video calling and a School Mode. It’s comparable to Verizon’s Gizmo 3 watch but uses T-Mobile’s cellular network. The just updated SyncUp Kids Watch 2, released in July 2024, added a second camera, more games, a flashlight and a few other design tweaks. 

Like most smartwatches for kids, this one also requires the use of its own app for settings and parental controls. Customers who add a new line can get the watch for free and the monthly plan should run about $10 per month.

One parent I spoke with called the SyncUp Kids Watch “decent,” and said it has been great for communication with his 10-year-old, while also providing a couple of games to play from time to time. “The main reasons we got it was for communication and tracking location,” explains parent Matt Boldt in California. “There’s some great parental controls and fun things for her too. It’s frustrating that her perimeter alarms are always delayed. It’s also annoying to have to use a separate app to locate her.”

Sala also tested the SyncUp Kids Watch (the first generation) with her 5-year-old and 9-year-old and found it on par with other kids smartwatches, though the battery was “less impressive than the Gizmo or the TickTalk.” Her kids preferred a certain game on this watch over the ones on the Gizmo Watch, too.   

Parental controls: Yes | Texting: Yes | Video calling: No | Music: Yes | Camera: Yes | GPS Tracking: Yes | Step counter: Yes | Games: Yes

Pros:

• Includes GPS tracking and sports activity tracking
• Allows text messaging and voice messaging
• Waterproof enough for swimming

Cons:

• Only preset messages available to send
• No calling capabilities

The Garmin Bounce kids smartwatch offers all of the activity tracking features a child could want, including letting them record their laps in the pool or runs around the track. There’s also limited voice and text messaging (presets) with up to 20 people that a parent approves but no phone calls. In fact, the watch offers more than 20 parental controls, along with real-time tracking. And if a child needs emergency help, it’s just a button press away. The watch can be paired and managed using a parent’s iPhone or Android-based smartphone. However, it uses its own LTE cellular connection (with a flat-rate, $10-per-month plan) to communicate.

As an activity tracker, the waterproof watch tracks running, walking and biking-related activities. It also has built-in stopwatch and alarm functionality, as well as a school mode to shutdown certain distracting features while a child is