How much screen time is enough screen time is a rather touchy subject for any parent. Some control it militantly whereas some are quite liberal with it. How you tackle that issue is a very individualistic choice and perhaps there’s no right or wrong. Still, as a parent, ensuring the safety and well-being of my child is always at the forefront of my mind.
When Apple introduced the “Apple Watch for Your Kids” feature, I was intrigued by the possibilities it offered. This feature allows parents to set up an Apple Watch with cellular connectivity for their children, even if they don’t have their own iPhone.
I decided to give it a try for my six-and-a-half-year-old daughter on an Apple Watch SE, which Apple sent me to try the feature. Yes, I can see a few eyebrows being raised on making a young child wear an Apple Watch. But read on to find out that I was judicious in my choice and well, duty calls.
The Apple Watch has long been well-established as a health and lifestyle accessory for adults. Now, Apple has smartly shifted some of its focus to parents and younger children, providing peace of mind while allowing kids to feel a sense of independence.
At first, the idea of putting an Apple Watch on my daughter felt a little extravagant. But after considering how the Apple Watch’s Family Setup allows for location tracking, communication, and safety features without the need for an iPhone, I saw the potential.
For a child too young for a smartphone but old enough to want little — very little I must add — independence, the Apple Watch is a good option to have. And as any parent knows, the sheer convenience of being able to track the location of your child can save you from a multitude of headaches.
Simple and quick setup
The setup process was simple. With Family Setup, I was able to link my daughter’s Apple Watch to my iPhone without needing a separate device for her. The process only took about 10 minutes, and soon enough, her wrist was sporting the Watch SE.
Not for too long though as soon she was bored with it. Luckily, I had Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Woody come to the rescue. In other words, Apple’s two cute little Watch faces that helped me togo over the basics with her. It was challenging — and frankly at the back of the mind I didn’t want to — get her into a gadget so early in life. So I stuck to the basics and important functions — sharing location primarily and some fun activity tracking.
Safety, convenience, and fun
The Apple Watch isn’t just about safety; it also encourages a healthy lifestyle. The activity tracking feature gets a kiddie twist. The Activity rings experience has been optimised for kids to track Move minutes instead of kilojoules burned and provide customisable goals for the Exercise and Stand rings. Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, and Outdoor Cycle workouts have been specifically tuned for kids. The metrics were accurate and it was a fun thing for my daughter to see after daily playtime in the neighbourhood park.
Understanding the importance of focus during school, Apple included a “Schooltime” mode. This feature limits distractions by turning off notifications and restricting access to certain apps during school hours. Though I must admit that my daughter’s school — mercifully so — doesn’t allow children to wear any kind of gadgets. Even if their dads are writing about it! So I couldn't test the feature but for slightly older children, I can see the benefits of it.
There’s a wireless service plan available for the Apple Watch but currently only limited to Jio. I didn’t try that particular feature as I wanted to maintain a balance. Again, I would like reiterate that it is a very individual choice. Perhaps some parents might want to go all the way with this feature as I do see a lot of value and convenience it. Not giving — or for that matter, giving — your children an iPhone is completely your prerogative. The Apple Watch for Your Kids feature eliminates the need for an iPhone, which is a huge plus in my book.
My biggest takeaway from Apple Watch for Kids feature was the ability to track my child’s location. For any parent with a child too young for a phone but ready for a bit more freedom, this feature might just be the perfect solution. Be it at her dance class or out for an ice-cream with an adult, I was able to successfully track my daughter’s location.
While it may seem like a luxury at first glance, the safety, convenience, might just be worth spending on an Apple Watch for your kids.
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