The 10 Best Smartwatches for Kids: GPS, Safety Features, and More

The TickTalk 4 is packed with plenty of features that will make it a favorite of parents and kids. This watch connects to either AT&T or T-Mobile cellular networks so kids can make voice calls, video calls, and text with their approved list of contacts. The watch also comes with two cameras, can stream music via iHeartRadio Family Access, and has a bumper around the watch that protects it from drops and bumps.

Kids cannot access social media or the web on the TickTalk 4, and parents can track their kids in real time using the parental control app. From approved contacts and apps to creating custom text responses, parents have access to over 20 different features in the parental control app. The watch is available in three different colors, but kids cannot swap the watchbands for different designs or colors.

Little kids may be jealous that big kids and grown-ups are able to wear smartwatches that do all sorts of impressive things, but the personality-packed Tobi 2 is hands-down the best way to keep youngsters entertained with their own age-appropriate smartwatch. Sure, this model is preloaded with plenty of captivating games, 50 swappable watch faces, a step-tracking pedometer, and storage space for up to 3,000 photos and 30 minutes of video, but the sweet robot itself is the star of the show. Tobi talks, answers questions, features over 100 unique reactions and expressions, and is the hero of multiple minigames where kids can decorate Tobi’s bedroom and play games with the silly wrist-mounted robot.

Tobi may not be able to make calls or browse the internet, but young kids won’t care as long as they can feed their animated smartwatch buddy digital ice cream cones.

For older kids ready for more features and a watch that looks and feels more like an adult watch, check out the Spacetalk Adventure. Kids can set up group chats with their family members and send pictures and videos right from the watch. The Spacetalk Adventure has one of the largest screens on the list and a protective layer over the glass to keep it protected during daily use.

Since this watch doesn’t connect to the internet, parents won’t need to worry that kids are downloading apps or scrolling social media on the watch. It also has a wellness feature that lets kids describe how they’re feeling and sends the results to their parents. It’s a nice feature that lets you check in to see if your kids are having a good day or maybe need a little extra TLC when they get home from school.

For the teens and tweens who are ready for more responsibility and have outgrown the kid-friendly features of many smartwatches, consider an Apple Watch. Apple’s Family Setup feature allows parents to control their child’s watch by approving apps and creating contact lists, use the GPS features to track their child’s location, and can limit access to the watch’s features during school hours. The Apple Watch allows for social media apps to be downloaded, unless those apps are not approved in the parental controls.

There are two versions of the Apple Watch SE. One version comes with GPS only that allows messaging and calls when paired with a nearby phone. The second has GPS and LTE cellular, which works through Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile/Sprint services. Plans usually run around $10 a month for this version,and if you’re choosing the Apple Watch SE, this is probably the best option so kids can always make calls and texts no matter where they’re located.

If you’re a Verizon customer looking for a great smartwatch for your kids, look no further. The Gizmo Watch 3 is the latest version of this smartwatch and offers a camera for video calls, an impressive GPS tracker with geofencing tools for parents, and games that younger kids will enjoy.

Kids can call, text, and video chat with approved contacts and the new battery lasts up to 3.5 days without needing a charge. Parents will need to download the Gizmo app to access the parental controls and to view the GPS features. However, it’s an easy app to navigate and you can manage multiple watches from the app if you have more than one child.

If your kids are tough on their technology, they need a watch that can withstand the playground, the classroom, sports practice, and weekends exploring the neighborhood on their bike. The Xplora X6Play Smart Watch has a durable watch band that kids can easily put on and take off. It also has raised edges around the display to help protect the screen and, for around $7, you can add a screen protector.

Instead of the grainy and low quality photos many smartwatches take, the 2-megapixel camera allows kids to snap better quality photos and send them to up to 50 approved contacts. The step counter has a fun reward system that can get your kids up and moving, too: Kids receive one coin for every 1,000 steps, and these coins can be used on Xplora’s Goplay platform to play games or change up the design on their watch face.

The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 offers plenty of entertainment for kids, like a monster game that uses AR, and voice changers that will have you and your kids laughing. Kids can also take pictures and videos and use the built in filters to make fun and silly creations that you can download for them. The watch also has a pedometer, calendar, and a calculator.

If you’re looking for a fun smartwatch that will entertain your kids, this is a great option. However, if you want a smartwatch with GPS, calling, and texts, this isn’t the watch for you.

While it would be incredibly convenient to take and send video calls with your children, few smartwatches are made to both provide a kid-friendly design while protecting them from strangers like the TickTalk 4. This smartwatch features a reliably crystal-clear video chat and a plethora of safety features, such as a secure app-based texting platform, convenient location tracking, emergency 911 calling, and best of all, only allowing new contacts to be approved by a guardian before they are able to interact with the TickTalk 4. It’s also a great option for parents searching for a smartwatch that is 100% game, social media, and internet-free for children who need less screen time in their lives.

Get your kids moving and learning with the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3, because this activity tracker does more than just count your kids’ steps each day. Instead, it encourages kids to learn about the world around them as they stay active 60 minutes a day. As kids reach their daily activity goals, they’ll unlock a variety of games and activities that teach them short and interactive lessons in the globe trotting app.

Parents can also set reminders for chores and homework from their phone. Once kids complete the tasks they get rewarded on the watch. This smartwatch really focuses on activity and movement, but doesn’t come with features like GPS or the ability to make or receive calls or texts.

If you’re searching for a kid-friendly smartwatch that has both a long battery life and is a snap to toss onto a wireless charger overnight, the Gabb Watch 3 is your best bet. You’ll appreciate that this versatile provides up to 48 hours per charge, as well as precise GPS tracking, a surprisingly rugged design, and an array of fine-tuned parental controls, but children will love its swappable bands, convenient speech-to-text communication option for little kids, and caring for a virtual pet panda in the Gabb Go game.

The Gabb Watch 3’s long-lasting battery life is perfect for knowing kids are exactly where they need to be via GPS, touching base via its large network coverage, and powering a limited selection of kid-safe apps for activity tracking, communicating with parent-approved contacts, and checking off parent-made to-do lists.