All parents want to know that their child is healthy, active, and most importantly, safe. But staying informed about your child’s well-being throughout the day can be challenging. You might often wonder: Are they getting enough sleep? Are they moving enough? Are they safe on the way to school or playing outside?
This is where smartwatches designed for kids can help. These devices combine safety features, communication tools, and health tracking in one convenient gadget. But not all smartwatches are worth buying. Before buying one, consider whether it’s practical, age-appropriate, and reliable.
Key Features to Look For
When choosing a smartwatch for your child, here are the most important features to consider:
- GPS tracking – Helps parents see where their child is in real-time.
- Two-way calling and messaging – Let kids communicate with pre-approved contacts.
- SOS button – Allows kids to quickly send an alert if they’re in trouble.
- Geofencing – Sends a notification when a child enters or leaves a designated area (like home or school).
- Simple interface – Younger kids don’t need dozens of apps or complicated menus.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the best smartwatches available for kids in 2025.
Best Smartwatches for Kids in 2025
1. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Apple doesn’t have a dedicated smartwatch for kids but it sells a service called Apple Watch for Your Kids (formerly Family Setup) that lets parents turn a cellular Apple Watch into a kid-friendly smartwatch. It allows them to manage app and service access, control who their child can call or message, and track their location via GPS.
On the surface, the kid’s mode has a very similar experience to a regular Apple Watch. It lets your child keep the same watch faces as yours or use apps like iMessage, Apple Music, and Siri. But its biggest perk is GPS tracking.
The service also integrates seamlessly with Apple’s Find My app, so parents can see their child’s location in real time. And you can set up notifications for when your child reaches school or arrive home.
There’s also Schooltime mode, which locks the watch to a simple clock face. You can schedule it to activate during class hours and if the child disables it, you’ll be notified of it.
But an Apple Watch for kids isn’t exactly cheap. It’s an option if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem and want a connected smartwatch for your child. In this case, any Apple Watch with cellular support will do the job.
But if you’re looking for a new one, the best option is the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) because it’s the most affordable model available.
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![Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, 2023) [GPS 44mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band. Fitness & Sleep Tracker, Crash Detection, Heart Rate Monitor, Retina Display](https://www.gizmochina.com/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/image.php?url=YUhSMGNITTZMeTl0TG0xbFpHbGhMV0Z0WVhwdmJpNWpiMjB2YVcxaFoyVnpMMGt2TXpFNFIyTmhUa1pwZUV3dVgxTk1NVFl3WHk1cWNHYz18MTc3NDQzNDI2MA=)
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Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, 2023) [GPS 44mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport… | Check Price on Amazon |
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2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Like Apple, Samsung doesn’t offer a kid-specific smartwatch. Instead, it provides a dedicated mode for its Galaxy Watch that works similarly to Apple’s solution — but for Android phones.
To set up the smartwatch for your child, you’ll need to use the Google Family Link app. This lets you establish guardrails, such as trusted contacts for calls and texts or GPS tracking. And since it’s a full-fledged smartwatch just with a kid mode, you can access all the apps available on the Play Store.
Of course, parents have control over what their kids can use, and there’s a School Time mode — similar to Apple Watch — that limits functionality during school hours to help kids stay focused. In an emergency, kids can also activate the SOS feature by pressing the side button five times.
As mentioned earlier, there’s no dedicated Samsung watch for kids. However, the Galaxy Watch for Kids mode is currently available only on the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE model in the US, supported by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks. The feature is relatively new, having launched just in January this year, so it’s likely to roll out to older Galaxy Watch models in the future.
That said, like Apple’s solution, this isn’t the most budget-friendly way to keep track of your kids. If you’re looking for something more affordable, we’ve got a few options below.
3. Fitbit Ace LTE
Launched in August 2024, the Fitbit Ace LTE is designed specifically for kids, with games, activity tracking, location sharing, and built-in LTE for calls and messaging.
To access calling, texting, and location sharing, you’ll need the Ace Pass, a $9.99-per-month subscription that enables LTE connectivity. While the watch can still be used without a subscription, its capabilities are limited to just basic movement and step tracking.
Unlike the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch, the Ace LTE doesn’t support third-party app downloads. Instead, it comes preloaded with games designed to keep kids entertained.
The Ace LTE works as a standalone device and is cross-platform. Parents can set it up through the Fitbit Ace app on Android or iOS, where they can manage contacts (who also need the Ace app), and enable school hours which disables games and calls. You can also, of course, track your child’s location which also syncs with Google Maps.
A notable safety feature of the Fitbit Ace is the “Call for Help” feature. The child can press and hold the top-side button to activate it which will begin a five-second countdown. If canceled in time, nothing happens. But if it reaches zero, the watch automatically dials emergency contacts, starting with the primary parent.
It’s a kid-friendly smartwatch with solid safety features—but like most connected wearables, you’ll need to pay extra to unlock its full potential.
4. Xiaomi Smart Kids Watch
Xiaomi’s Smart Kids Watch is one of the most affordable options out there with built-in GPS tracking. It features two-way calling, and GPS making it a solid pick for parents looking for a safety-focused smartwatch for their kids. The battery life? Better than many competitors.
The standout feature here is video calling. Yes, the watch has a tiny camera built into the top bezel, letting parents not only talk to their kids but also get a quick look at their surroundings. Unlike pricier LTE-enabled wearables, Xiaomi’s watch relies on Wi-Fi for video calls. It also supports voice messages of up to 15 seconds, so kids can send quick updates without hopping on a call.
There’s also a Do Not Disturb mode, which mutes calls and messages during set periods—perfect for school hours or bedtime. It also has an SOS button that instantly alerts designated emergency contacts, ensuring quick assistance in case of an emergency.
On the fitness side, the watch includes exercise modes like skipping, outdoor running, and cycling. Parents can track their child’s activity, including time spent exercising, calories burned, and steps, through the Xiaomi Kids app.
For the price, it’s a compelling choice—especially if staying connected (without handing your kid a smartphone) is the goal.
5. Garmin Bounce
The Garmin Bounce is a feature-packed kids’ smartwatch with LTE connectivity, live GPS tracking, and fitness tracking. It offers two-way texting and voice messaging through the Garmin Jr app, and as expected, contacts are limited to approved users. Parents can set step goals, safety boundaries, and Do Not Disturb schedules for school or bedtime.
The Bounce tracks walking, running, swimming, and biking, with GPS-enabled distance tracking and includes sleep tracking, alarms, and chore reminders. It also has a built-in adventure feature that encourages kids to stay active with virtual rewards, though much of it happens in the companion app rather than on the watch itself.
The Bounce offers an incredible battery life of about 35–50 hours depending on GPS use. However, LTE features require a $10/month subscription, and the watch’s location boundaries are limited to fixed-radius circles, making precise tracking tricky. Despite some quirks, the Garmin Bounce is a solid option for parents looking for a connected, safety-focused smartwatch for their kids.
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