kids smart watch recs

[karinothing]

Does anyone have any good smart watch recommendations? Now that DS is at baseball a million days a week (and I don't have to be there) I would like him to be able to go alone and ride his bike. I really like the Gizmo, but looks like it is only available for Verizon. I have T-Mobile but there smart watch gets bad reviews.

I need it to text, call, and have GPS tracking. Thanks!

[redheadk]

We have a Gizmo and are very happy with it but I know that doesn't help you.

[jinkies]

We have a Gizmo with verizon even though none of our other phones are with them. It costs a little more-- I think it's $10/mo, and would have been $5/mo if we were verizon customers. DD got it for xmas and we've been really happy with it.

I did a lot of research into other options, and the Gizmo really seemed like the best choice.

[karinothing]

Apr 20, 2021 9:21:02 GMT -5 redheadk said:

We have a Gizmo and are very happy with it but I know that doesn't help you.

oh hmm it looks like there may be an option for non Verizon customers. I will have to look into it.

[karinothing]

Apr 20, 2021 9:28:19 GMT -5 jinkies said:

We have a Gizmo with verizon even though none of our other phones are with them. It costs a little more-- I think it's $10/mo, and would have been $5/mo if we were verizon customers. DD got it for xmas and we've been really happy with it.

I did a lot of research into other options, and the Gizmo really seemed like the best choice.

Thanks! I didn't realize we could do this. very cool.

[af1212]

We also have a gizmo. Are happy with jt.

We don’t have Verizon but a family member does so I pay them $60 a year to add my kid to their plan.

[dochas]

Another happy Gizmo customer. It has an step counter thing that my son is having fun with.

[iheartbanjos]

My youngest who is 7 has a Gizmo (MIL has it on her account and we just Venmo the $60/year once a year.)

My 10 year old has an Apple Watch SE with cellular so it doesn’t link to a phone. Both get the job done, but the Apple Watch is definitely better in terms of service.

[madringal]

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

[JayTea]

We have gizmo and love it. DS is 10.

[suzubell]

Apr 21, 2021 6:50:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

Looking for a cheap Apple Watch SE for my 11 year old. Where did you buy refurbished? Some sites make me nervous...

[karinothing]

Apr 21, 2021 6:50:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

I haven't looked into relays. I will check it out. Thanks for the rec. HE is 9, but turns 10 in October. What is the reason for an apple watch over a gizmo? I actually looked into Samsung watches but they looked too fancy IMO.

[suzubell]

Apr 21, 2021 7:53:24 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Apr 21, 2021 6:50:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

I haven't looked into relays. I will check it out. Thanks for the rec. HE is 9, but turns 10 in October. What is the reason for an apple watch over a gizmo? I actually looked into Samsung watches but they looked too fancy IMO.

Our gizmo had poor service, and can only have a few people you can make and receive calls from. Also only limited pre-written text messages so we just outgrew it.

[waverly]

I didn't realize you could have an apple watch without a phone linked to it. Can you make it so it doesn't have access to Internet browsers?

[BicycleBride]

Apr 21, 2021 9:44:42 GMT -5 waverly said:

I didn't realize you could have an apple watch without a phone linked to it. Can you make it so it doesn't have access to Internet browsers?

Apple watches don’t have an internet browser.

[madringal]

Apr 21, 2021 7:14:09 GMT -5 suzubell said:

Apr 21, 2021 6:50:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

Looking for a cheap Apple Watch SE for my 11 year old. Where did you buy refurbished? Some sites make me nervous...

We got hers refurbished from Best Buy! And I got mine refurbished from Target.

[madringal]

Apr 21, 2021 9:44:42 GMT -5 waverly said:

I didn't realize you could have an apple watch without a phone linked to it. Can you make it so it doesn't have access to Internet browsers?

If you get one with cellular service, it is connected to a phone. BUT, you don’t have to have the phone nearby in order to use the call/text feature. So, we did have to have it connected to an old iPhone and that phone just sat in the house.

Not only do the Apple watches have no internet browsers, they also don’t have a camera. This was one of my biggest concerns. I have no interest in her taking photos of herself or others and being able to text/send them to people.

[madringal]

Apr 21, 2021 7:53:24 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Apr 21, 2021 6:50:15 GMT -5 madringal said:

How old? If he’s older than 10, I’d suggest getting an Apple Watch. We bought a refurbished 3 with cellular for $199 for DD1 when she was 10. Meant we didn’t have to give her an actual phone, she could just wear the watch to send and receive calls and texts. When she turned 12 we gave her the phone that was connected to it.

Have you looked into Relays? Those look pretty cool if you really just want something for when he is at practice.

I haven't looked into relays. I will check it out. Thanks for the rec. HE is 9, but turns 10 in October. What is the reason for an apple watch over a gizmo? I actually looked into Samsung watches but they looked too fancy IMO.

The gizmo he will eventually outgrown the look and the function of it. For the same cost of service, you can have something that he can use for years and years.

[notsopicky]

E got a Gizmo last month, and will be 10 in a week. It's great--just basic enough for what we need. I can send him a text, he can send me a voice recording, and he can call me in an emergency. Has the GPS tracking, step counter, and excellent battery life.

[iknowthismuchistrue]

Apple Watch SE for sure! My DD got one for her 10th birthday. It does not have a cell phone connected to it. It has its own number. She can call or text the specific people we have approved and added to her contacts. She cannot receive calls or texts during the school day. It makes it so there is no reason for her to need a phone any time soon. It has been fantastic.

[karinothing]

Apr 21, 2021 19:45:25 GMT -5 iknowthismuchistrue said:

Apple Watch SE for sure! My DD got one for her 10th birthday. It does not have a cell phone connected to it. It has its own number. She can call or text the specific people we have approved and added to her contacts. She cannot receive calls or texts during the school day. It makes it so there is no reason for her to need a phone any time soon. It has been fantastic.

Does it have tracking? Like can I track from my non apple phone?

[redheadk]

Apr 21, 2021 19:45:25 GMT -5 iknowthismuchistrue said:

Apple Watch SE for sure! My DD got one for her 10th birthday. It does not have a cell phone connected to it. It has its own number. She can call or text the specific people we have approved and added to her contacts. She cannot receive calls or texts during the school day. It makes it so there is no reason for her to need a phone any time soon. It has been fantastic.

Are you able to control the numbers she can receive calls/texts from?

Behind limiting who dd can contact, that is a feature of the Gizmo watch I really like but she will definitely outgrow this by the time she leaves elementary school.

[waverly]

Good to know on the Apple Watch. I am firmly in the camp of no smart phones until grade 9, so for that 5th-8th grade I will be doing either some kind of watch or flip phone. I am thinking DS might like the watch better. I am expecting him to need to stay after middle school for extra curriculars in 6th grade, so I have another year before I need to get him something.  If he does EC in 5th grade, I should be able to pick him up.  

[iknowthismuchistrue]

Apr 21, 2021 21:23:47 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Apr 21, 2021 19:45:25 GMT -5 iknowthismuchistrue said:

Apple Watch SE for sure! My DD got one for her 10th birthday. It does not have a cell phone connected to it. It has its own number. She can call or text the specific people we have approved and added to her contacts. She cannot receive calls or texts during the school day. It makes it so there is no reason for her to need a phone any time soon. It has been fantastic.

Does it have tracking? Like can I track from my non apple phone?

Sorry. I missed these questions. Yes. You can track the watch from your iPhone. It’s very accurate tracking. I love it.

[iknowthismuchistrue]

Apr 21, 2021 22:07:55 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Apr 21, 2021 19:45:25 GMT -5 iknowthismuchistrue said:

Apple Watch SE for sure! My DD got one for her 10th birthday. It does not have a cell phone connected to it. It has its own number. She can call or text the specific people we have approved and added to her contacts. She cannot receive calls or texts during the school day. It makes it so there is no reason for her to need a phone any time soon. It has been fantastic.

Are you able to control the numbers she can receive calls/texts from?

Behind limiting who dd can contact, that is a feature of the Gizmo watch I really like but she will definitely outgrow this by the time she leaves elementary school.

Yes. We fully control it. She does not have the ability to add a phone number or just have someone call her. If she wants to add a friend to her contacts she has to give us the phone number and we have to add it/approve it. If she were to get an unauthorized phone number/junk call her watch will show her someone is trying to call but she can’t see the number or answer it.

[acr]

With TMobile, we have a TikTalk.

It's okay - bulky but it meets our needs as long as DS remembers to charge it!