I initially scoffed at the idea of a smartphone or smartwatch for pre-teens. The more independent my kids get, however, and the more they’re under another adult’s supervision, I do long for them to be able to just press a button and call me. The idea of a phone with GPS is appealing as well, although certainly not foolproof for the worst-case scenario of getting kidnapped.
I mostly want to introduce them to the responsibility of such a device in their lives. Even my six-year-old asks for a smartphone of his own, without understanding that if he doesn’t charge it, it won’t be charged. And if he tosses it into his bag like he does everything else, then it could break. Not being allowed to use it during school time will be quite a shocker as well. But I’d rather he learn these lessons on more inexpensive technology before we invest in a phone when he’s older. So here are some of the smartwatches that friends have used in Beijing.
VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2
Ages: 4 to 12
GPS: No
Phone: No
The VTech Kidizoom SmartWatch was chosen out of 500 digital technology products for kids to receive the esteemed KAPi (Kids at Play Interactive) Award for “Best Peripheral” in 2018. With a touch screen, selfie, and side camera for stills or video, games, and the choice of either an analog or digital display, Kidizoom gives parents some solid control but retains the cool parts that appeal to kids as well. All the learning games connect to VTech’s Learning Lodge, however, so it’s probably not a good choice if you aren’t already in that world.
Available in blue, pink, green, white, and camouflage. Special editions also offer interchangeable wristbands so your four-year-old can start accessorizing!
Kurio Watch 2.0+
Ages: 6 to 12
GPS: No
Phone: Yes
This one grabbed my attention because of the stickers you can add to photos and videos, which my kids love to do on my personal phone. You can send texts, doodles, and more to other Kurio watches and also message with any Android device, so long as the recipient has downloaded the Kurio app. With games like Pirate’s Battle, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Battleship, siblings and friends with the same watch can play together too. There’s an Activity Tracker but even more important to me, and Emergency App! Here you can not only input numbers and contacts in case of emergency, but also allergies, blood type, and special instructions.
It’s available in many colors with interchangeable straps, and thermal straps also change color based on your wrist’s heat. Good luck getting them to take this one off at school.
Omate Wherecom K3 Smart Watch
Ages: 6 to 10
GPS: Yes
Phone: Yes
Some of the techier parents tend towards Omate, with its built-in 3G and up to two days of battery life when charged. There’s an emergency button, video camera for calls, touchscreen, noise cancellation microphone, and unlimited data. Messaging is also easy with unlimited voice messaging and fun emojis, of course. All of these features are available through the iOS or Android apps, with supposedly no “pricey plans”.
The interface looks user friendly enough, and games can be played solo or with other K3 users. Of course, only the programmed numbers can be used to call in or out, so keep those parental controls tight. It’s a little pricier than some of the other options but is made to be durable to keep your active child from breaking theirs and needing a new one too soon.
Xiaomi Kids Smartwatch
Ages: 6 and up
GPS: Yes
Phone: Yes
Beijing Mom Charlotte Edwards likes the bells and whistles of this watch so her kids, Nathaniel (12) and Catherine (8), feel cool, but it’s the parental controls that sold it for her.
“The kids can call any of [the programmed numbers]…We used the app to specify the times during which the phone cannot make or receive calls. From the app we can also see where the children are; the only downside we’ve experienced is that because we live near the school, at least once a day while the kids are at recess or out for PE, our phones alert us that the child has left school.” A quick glance is enough to check their exact location, however.
Some other perks are the songs and stories they can access on WiFi, and Charlotte explains “they can also add friends who have this brand of watch and send voice and text messages to them outside of school hours.”
WORD TO THE WISE
As exciting as these smartwatches might seem as an alternative to younger kids owning a cell phone, parents must be sure to check the latest data and security findings for their products. In their 2010 paper “STALK: Security Analysis of Smartwatches for Kids,“ researchers at the Münster University of Applied Sciences in Germany found an incredible amount of vulnerabilities in many smartwatch security systems. Often hackers could listen in to conversations, track or change GPS coordinates, and even send text messages that looked like they came from a child’s parents in some cases.
My takeaway from this research is to not only perform my due diligence as a parent to find the right features for my child but also check out my top choices against studies like the one from Münster University. Don’t let a tool bought for safety turn into a security nightmare.
KEEP READING: This Beijing Teen Stays Safe and Stays Real On Instagram
Photos: from product websites
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 November issue
