Smartwatches are a good way to stay in touch with your kids. They let you communicate via text messages, voice calls, and audio notes. The best part is you can check your kids’ whereabouts with real-time location tracking. They also eliminate the need to give your kids a smartphone.
The market has plenty of options, but finding the right smartwatch for your kids can be challenging. That’s why we have listed the best smartwatches for kids in 2026. You can pick one based on your preference, needs, and budget.
Verizon Gizmo Watch 4
The Verizon Gizmo Watch 4 is one of the best smartwatches for younger kids. It can be used to make phone calls, send texts, and audio messages. You get privacy-focused features like downtimes, checking a child’s location, and school modes. You can easily choose up to 40 contacts who can communicate with your kids.
The Verizon Family companion app makes it easier to tweak all these settings and features. The smartwatch also offers features like a step counter, stopwatch, calculator, and a camera for taking selfies. It has a USB-C charging cable for a convenient charging experience.
Buy Now (Price: $179.99)
Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 is suited for older kids and teens, especially if you trust them with an expensive item. Parents or guardians will also need to have an iPhone or iPad to pair and control this smartwatch’s settings. The GPS + cellular variant offers GPS tracking.
It supports Apple Pay that can be used for sharing a cashless allowance with your kids. The smartwatch is water-resistant and has Always On Display. It natively supports texting for communication. There are plenty of parental control features, like new contacts can be added only with the parents’ permission, time limits for using apps, locating the smartwatch, and dedicated Schooltime mode. However, if you do not want an internet-enabled smartwatch for your kid, then you might want to skip this one.
Buy Now (Price: $239)
TickTalk 5
The TickTalk 5 is another fun smartwatch for kids that’s worth consideration. It supports individual and group conversations featuring voice messages, sharing photos, talk-to-talk, stickers, and emojis. The smartwatch offers real-time tracking, route history, and AI SmartPin. Some of the privacy features include preset contacts, add friends control, view call logs, app user permissions, and block unknown numbers.
It offers free streaming of music, stories, and podcasts via iHeartRadio Family. The smartwatch can be used with the AT&T or T-Mobile network.
Buy Now (Price: $159.99)
Garmin Bounce
The Garmin Bounce is a kids smartwatch with voice messages, texts, and location tracking support. Everything is easy to manage through the Garmin Jr. companion app. It supports step counting, heart-rate monitoring, and other activities. Connectivity features include both WiFi and LTE.
The companion app makes it convenient for real-time location tracking. You get a school mode and do not disturb (DND) mode. One unique thing about the Garmin Jr. app is that it is very intuitive and easy to use.
Buy Now (Price: $119)
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