Kids' smartwatches: what parents should check first
Before buying a kids' smartwatch, check approved contacts, SOS, internet access, location sharing and privacy settings — the six checks that keep it safe.
Before buying a kids' smartwatch, check six things: approved-contacts-only calling, no web browser or app store, a usable SOS button, transparent location sharing, multi-factor authentication on the parent app, and a family agreement about when tracking will be reviewed and eventually stopped.
For many families, the first device a child gets is no longer a phone. It is a watch. A kids' smartwatch lets a child call a parent, send a voice note, and share a location from their wrist, without opening the door to social media or the open internet. But a watch that knows where your child is, who they talk to, and what they say is also a powerful data collector, so the smartest purchase starts with questions, not features.
The appeal is easy to understand. Safety is the main reason parents reach for these devices. In a Verizon survey conducted with Morning Consult of 671 parents of children ages 6 and older, 78% said technology is helpful for keeping children safe, 69% planned to check in through a wearable device such as a smartwatch, and 35% wanted a device with an emergency SOS button. GPS tracking, safe-zone alerts, and two-way calling let parents stay close while a child walks to school or plays at a park. Tracking is already common: Pew Research Center found that 1 in 4 parents track the location of a young adult child with GPS apps, even if only rarely, rising to 42% among parents of 18- to 24-year-olds. A kids' watch simply starts that habit earlier, on a smaller screen.
The catch is what happens to the data. Consumer Reports tested 15 child-tracking devices, looking at encryption, data-sharing policies, and default settings, and found that products made for children were not always the safest. Some collected messages, voice notes, movement patterns, and device identifiers. Four skipped multi-factor authentication entirely, so a leaked or reused parent password could open up a child's location. One watch logged direct messages between the parent app and the child's watch in an unencrypted database, though the company said the data was encrypted in transit and at rest and deleted shortly after delivery. Only two of the 15 offered controls to decline targeted ads. The best scorers on data privacy and security included the Apple AirTag and Eufy SmartTrack Link among Bluetooth trackers, and the Apple Watch SE 3 GPS plus Cellular and Garmin Bounce among watches. The lesson, echoed in coverage of the investigation, is to choose devices with strong privacy controls and restrictive settings and avoid trackers that rely on targeted advertising.
That does not mean you should skip a watch. It means you should buy it like a safety device, not a toy. Run through the checklist below before you pay, not after the watch is already on your child's wrist.
Check 1: Who can contact your child?
This is the single most important setting. A good kids' watch allows calls and messages only with contacts you approve. Strangers should not be able to reach your child, and your child should not be able to add contacts without your approval. If a watch allows open calling or messaging, it is not a real kids' watch.
Check 2: Is there an open internet?
A kids' watch should have no web browser and no app store: the whole point of choosing a watch over a phone is to delay open internet access. If it can browse the web, download apps, or open social media, you have bought a small phone. Ask the seller directly whether it can open a browser or install apps; if the answer is vague, walk away.
Check 3: Can your child actually use the SOS button?
An SOS button only helps if a child can find it and press it under stress. Test it together on day one: press it, see who gets contacted, and talk through when to use it — feeling unsafe, lost, or hurt. Some watches also send the child's location automatically when SOS is pressed. Make sure your child knows pressing it is always the right choice when they feel scared.
Check 4: Who sees the location, and can your child see it too?
Location sharing should be a two-way conversation, not secret surveillance. Tell your child the watch shares their location, show them what you see on your phone, and agree on when you will check it. Consumer Reports recommends never setting up a tracker without telling your child. As children grow, the deal should change: fewer check-ins, wider safe zones, and eventually a conversation about when tracking stops.
Check 5: Is the parent app locked down?
Your parent app is the front door to your child's location. Turn on multi-factor authentication, set privacy options to the most restrictive level, turn off ad personalization where possible, and check how long location history is kept and whether you can delete it. A clear privacy policy is a good sign; one you cannot find or understand is a warning sign. Guides to choosing between watches and trackers stress the same basics: a clear privacy policy, a way to delete location history, strong login protection, and regular updates.
Check 6: What does the law say about your child's location data?
In the United States, precise location data counts as personal information about a child. The Federal Trade Commission's children's privacy rules require companies collecting personal information from children under 13 to give parents notice and get verifiable parental consent first, and to protect that information and delete it when it is no longer needed. That is your legal backstop, but it only works if you read the consent screens and privacy settings instead of tapping through them.
Comparing your options
| Device type | Best for | Calling and texting | Internet | Monthly fee | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids' smartwatch | Ages 7 to 12, school and activities | Approved contacts only | No browser or app store | Usually yes, cellular plan | Weak privacy settings, open contacts |
| GPS tracker (no screen) | Younger children, bags and jackets | None or SOS only | None | Usually yes, cellular plan | No two-way talk, easy to lose |
| Bluetooth tag | Bags, keys, short range | None | None | No | Cannot report location alone, no SOS |
| General smartwatch with parental controls | Older children ready for more | Controlled contacts | Limited, parent-managed | Usually yes, cellular plan | Settings can be loosened by the child |
A screen-free tracker suits a younger child who only needs to be found. A kids' smartwatch suits a child who needs to reach you and can remember to charge a device. A general smartwatch with parental controls can work for an older child, but only if you lock the settings down and keep checking them.
The family agreement
Before the watch goes on, write down three things together: when you will check the location, who is on the approved contacts list, and when the rules will be reviewed. Loosen them as your child shows responsibility. The American Academy of Pediatrics now urges families to focus on quality, context, and conversation around media rather than time limits alone: agree on device-free times such as meals and bedtime, and model the same habits yourself.
A kids' smartwatch can be a genuinely good first device: it keeps a child reachable without handing them the whole internet. Just buy it with your eyes open — approved contacts only, no open internet, a usable SOS button, honest location sharing, a locked-down parent app, and an agreement that grows with your child. Check those six things first, and the watch on their wrist will be a safety net, not a privacy risk.
Frequently asked questions
What age is right for a kids' smartwatch?
Most children are ready between ages 7 and 12, when they travel to school or activities alone and can remember to charge a device. Maturity matters more than age: a child who loses things constantly or cannot follow simple rules is not ready yet.
Do kids' smartwatches need a monthly subscription?
If the watch uses a cellular connection for GPS tracking and calls, yes, it usually needs a monthly plan. Bluetooth tags have no monthly fee, but they cannot report a location on their own and have no SOS or calling features.
Can strangers contact my child on a kids' smartwatch?
They should not be able to, if you choose well. Pick approved-contacts-only calling and texting, and test it by calling the watch from an unapproved number. If the call goes through, return the watch.
Is my child's location data private?
It depends on the company: some devices have weaker protections, including missing multi-factor authentication. Choose strong privacy controls, turn on multi-factor authentication, use the most restrictive settings, and delete location history regularly.
Should I tell my child the watch tracks their location?
Yes, always. Experts and Consumer Reports agree that transparency matters as much as technology. Show your child what you can see, agree on when you will check, and revisit the agreement as they grow older.