The percentage of kids who have a smartphone grows by the year: As of Oct. 2019, over half of kids have their own phones by age 11 (compared to ages 13 and 14 over the past few years). Kids seem to start begging for their own phone as soon as they can talk (or at least it probably feels that way to parents who are always handing their phone over to keep a kid busy). In some ways, your child having a phone on them at all times can alleviate some serious worries about location and communication, and educational TV shows on a tablet are a handy distraction when parents need some peace and quiet. Read more…
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IMAGE: Verizon
OUR PICK
Verizon GizmoWatch 2
Verizon’s Apple Watch-like design offers the full smartwatch experience with GPS, fitness tracking, and task scheduling.
- GPS tracking: Yes
- Battery life: Up to 4 days
- Sleep tracking: No
- Water resistance: Waterproof up to 3.2 feet
- Communication features: Calling and texting for designated contacts
$99.99 from Verizon
IMAGE: Best Buy
BEST FOR HEALTHY HABITS
Garmin Vívofit Jr. 2
Kids will *want* to assume some responsibility with this coin-based, Disney-themed reward system.
- GPS: No
- Battery life: Non-rechargeable, but up to one year
- Sleep tracking: Yes
- Water resistance: Waterproof up to 164 feet
- Communication features: None
$69.99 from Best Buy
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST GAMES
VTech Kidizoom DX2
The kid-proof watch to choose if your goal is fun and learning rather than daily routines and keeping in touch.
- GPS: No
- Battery life: Up to two weeks
- Sleep tracking: No
- Water resistance: Splash-proof, but shouldn’t be submerged
- Communication features: None
$59.99 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR KIDS WHO PLAY SPORTS
Fitbit Ace 2
More independent than most kid watches but more fun than an adult Fitbit, the Ace 2 is a cool companion for kids who have a smartphone.
- GPS: No
- Battery life: Up to five days
- Sleep tracking: Yes
- Water resistance: Waterproof up to 164 feet
- Communication features: Call and text notifications
$69.95 from Amazon
IMAGE: Macy’s
BUDGET PICK
iTouch PlayZoom
This cute watch hits a lot of marks that you wouldn’t expect from a $30 device, but the best part is the band selection.
- GPS: No
- Battery life: Less than one day
- Sleep tracking: No
- Water resistance: Splash-proof, but shouldn’t be submerged
- Communication features: None
$29.99 from Macy’s
