Kids' Smartwatch – Yes or No?

Most parents sooner or later have to think about smartphones for their children. But when is it too early for electronic devices for children?

Opinions on this often differ. Some believe in getting their children used to smartphones etc. early on. Others, on the other hand, want to delay buying their children a smartphone for as long as possible.

But could a kids' smartwatch be the perfect alternative?

What is justified and what are the pros and cons of a kids' smartwatch at a young age?

We take a critical look at the topic of kids' smartwatches & show you how sensible a kids' smartwatch can be, especially compared to smartphones!

 

The positive sides of a smartwatch

Traveling alone

Whether on the way to school, football practice, or meeting up with friends. You always feel uneasy letting your child go off alone, because fears that they might get lost or not arrive safely persist. A smartwatch with a GPS function & Geo-Fence lets parents worry less. The watch can be located with the help of the app & you can see where the child is at the moment, and what route has been taken. Thus, children can go to school alone and parents can also get through the day with peace of mind.

 

No overload

Whether it's sensory overload or technical overload. Studies show that children at an early age should not yet come into contact with digital media. Too much noise or too much media consumption can stress the little ones and lead to overload. Children can hardly assess the digital world and the possible consequences of their actions. Therefore, a smartwatch without internet access or camera function is ideal, as the handling of electronic gadgets is learned, but it does not cause overload.

 

Are you running late?

Picking up your child from school or sports. It can happen that you are late by a certain time due to traffic jams or delays at work. Your child is worried and does not know where you are. A smartwatch makes communication easier and your child can reach you at any time.

 

Family communication

Simple communication without a smartphone for children. The whole family can use the phone and voice message functions.

Take part directly in your child's achievements & find out about good grades and sports experiences, even if you are not seeing each other right now. These functions can be disabled during school hours, so that the smartwatch is only a normal watch during class times.

 

SOS function

In emergency situations, your child can always reach you. With the SOS function, up to three emergency numbers can be stored in the watch, which are called one after another when the SOS button is pressed. To quickly get help in major as well as minor emergencies.

 

School mode

In the app, school quiet times can be set, during which the watch disables functions such as calling, chatting etc. and only fulfills the functions of a regular watch. During this time, all notifications are muted and only after school time can the smartwatch be used normally again. Thus, the watch is also allowed in school, as many schools ban smartwatches due to gaming functions or cameras.

 

Why doubt or even say no to the smartwatch?

 

Ready for independence?

This is the question that every parent has to ask themselves. Is my child ready for the trust and independence that a smartwatch brings with it in several areas. On the one hand, the trust between parents and child, the responsibility to not forget the smartwatch somewhere or lose it, and the independence, whether your child is able to coordinate themselves and operate the smartwatch alone.

But also the parents undergo a small detachment process when they realize that the child is no longer dependent on them, but gets through everyday life more independently. The shared time on the way to school falls away and the child becomes more independent. 

 

Technical hardware overload

Not every smartwatch is easy to use. And not every child gets along with electronic gadgets right away. Thus, it should be determined beforehand whether your child is already ready for such technology and if not, you can always wait another year. Better late than too early is the rule here and depends entirely on the child's development.

  

Lost or battery empty?

A smartwatch makes no sense if it is empty or lost. Thus, it means always diligently charging the battery. The battery of the Anio Kids' Smartwatch lasts between one or several days depending on the intensity of use. However, it is best to plug the watch in every day before going to sleep, so that you can start the next morning well charged. Thus, the discipline of daily charging must be present to be able to use the smartwatch to the fullest.

Conclusion

Smartphones and other media offerings by no means only provide relaxation, but with the wrong dosage, they can become a stress factor for children due to the endless flood of images. A smartwatch without bells and whistles is an ideal alternative to the first smartphone to slowly get your child used to digital progress. Sensory overload should be avoided in all cases to reduce stress factors, as there is often already enough pressure and stress at school.

To enable your child a piece of independence in combination with a fun alternative to the smartphone, grab a kids' smartwatch now!

 

Your Anio Team!

 

For more information on the topic, there are a few more links from us here:

How sensible are smartwatches for children? (https://www.wireltern.ch/artikel/smartwatches-fuer-kinder-0220)

Smartphone or smartwatch for children: More safety or rather a danger? (https://www.elterngeld.de/smartphone-oder-smartwatch-fuer-kinder/#gref)

Do not use smartwatch to control children (https://www.schau-hin.info/grundlagen/smartwatch-nicht-zur-kontrolle-von-kindern-einsetzen)

Fears through media – how to prevent them (https://www.kindergesundheit-info.de/themen/medien/alltagstipps/medienwahrnehmung/ueberforderung-verhindern/)