Somewhere in the middle of fifth grade, my child started asking for more independence. He begged to walk to our local coffee shop on his own. He yearned to visit his friends up the street without us tagging along.
He also started asking for a device.
“Mom, some of my friends have phones. Why can’t I have one?” he asked me one day.
I’ll be honest—I was stumped.
At the 2025 Future of Fatherhood Summit, I heard Jonathan Haidt, PhD, author of The Anxious Generation, extol the merits of waiting until at least about eighth grade to give children phones, citing potential harm to their intellectual, creative, and social growth.
But what about a smartwatch for kids? Could kid smartwatches be a good alternative and benefit kids before they reach the teen years? From my family’s experience, the answer is yes.
Choosing Between a Smartphone and a Smartwatch
As I nervously watched my son cross the street to go to his friend’s house one day, I realized that it’s not my job to keep him nice and close forever. My job is to encourage independence. The reality is, giving him a device while he does so would make the transition easier.
But at the same time, I don’t know a single parent that wants the hassle of a smartphone for their child before it’s necessary.
“Many children who receive phones at a young age are definitely not ready for the responsibility, and they’re exposed to countless dangers because of it,” says Titania Jordan, Chief Parenting Officer and CMO at Bark, a company aiming to protect kids online, and author of Parental Control.
Though Damon Korb, MD, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and director of the Center for Developing Minds, points out that it comes down to an individual child.
“Parents should keep their own child’s maturity in mind and avoid being pressured by the decisions of other parents to provide earlier access for their child,” shares Dr. Korb.
For my family, we felt a smartwatch was the best option for right now and we considered several issues when choosing one.
Safety and ease
There are several smartwatches on the market for kids. We tried out a few with our son and prefer one that is simple to use and also focuses on safety. The Bark watch allows him to easily call and text us. He’s only allowed to communicate with contacts that I’ve added to his watch. Texts also come directly into my inbox.
Bark
For watches like TickTalk, the messages go into the app and the parent gets a notification. TickTalk also doesn’t have a keyboard so, if you’re looking for an added layer of oversight, kids can’t freely type out messages. They can use talk-to-text or pre-approved texts that the parent allows.
Amazon
We also explored Apple watches for kids, which some of his friends have, but we wanted a less expensive and more basic watch for his first device.
We ended up opting for a Bark smartwatch with location tracking. When my son is off on his own, I can check in when I need via the parent app on my phone. That helps put my mind at ease.
Bullying prevention
We wanted a device that could help us monitor activity without feeling the need to read every single text my son gets or sends. That felt like a violation and antithetical to helping him be more independent. But cyberbullying is a detrimental reality for pre-teens so I opted in on notifications about any potential inappropriate content he may come across.
Smartwatches can also prevent cyberbullying because of parental controls that put limitations on who can be in contact with the child. Parents can remove a contact from the parent app if bullying is observed.
Expense and responsibility
Let’s be honest: phones are pricey. Using a smartwatch is more affordable and less likely to get lost.
“Watches are easier to keep track of, as they’re securely strapped to a child’s wrist,” Jordan notes. “They’re less likely to be left on the bus or dropped and cracked, which are common issues with younger kids using extremely delicate—and expensive—pieces of technology.”
Internet access
Unmonitored access to the internet and social media was a big concern so we chose a smartwatch without social media, browsers, or games—though some watches have these capabilities. The temptation to scroll throughout the day—which is made easier on a smartphone—is something we want to delay as long as possible.
“A phone offers easy access to the dangers of social media and the internet,” confirms Dr. Korb.
Jordan agrees, adding, “A smartphone introduces the entire world to a child, and it can shape how they view both themselves and others in terms of 24/7 connectivity.”
What’s more, “it’s also hard to dial it back if your child isn’t quite ready for one,” she says.
But keep in mind that smartwatches can have their own downsides too, especially with voice assistant features.
“I worry that children become dependent on their watches to find answers without taking the time and effort to problem-solve solutions for themselves,” Dr. Korb cautions. “If they do not use their problem-solving skills, they lose them.”
What My Family Is Loving About Using a Smartwatch
I thought when I gave my son a smartwatch that he would be attached to it 24/7 but it appears to be more functional for him. He also associates it with more freedom so it’s enjoyable for him. He now loves to say, “Mom, I’ll just text you.”
As for my parental anxiety, having him use his smartwatch has been a relief. The first time he walked home from his friend’s house on his own, he was able to text me several times at different points to let me know his progress as he made his way across streets. It helped ease my mind knowing he was on the right track to our home.
And in regard to his friends who have phones? I know my son will likely bring up the comparison again.
“A good parenting message is to say, ‘I love you and we know phones can be dangerous so in our family we wait until kids go to high school,’” Dr. Korb advises.
It’s an important life skill for him to learn that sometimes he’ll have what his peers do. Other times he won’t. And that’s OK.
Ultimately, if and when to get your child a smart device is up to their development and your needs. Remember, the goal is to help our children develop into well-adjusted adults who have a healthy approach to technology. If you keep that front and center, you’re well on your way to making the right choice for your family.
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