Children's smart tech

Kids_Furry_friend

I'm looking into first smartwatch, GPS tracker, or alternative for my 10yr old son. I'm reluctant to go down the phone route for many reasons, as I think they are too much of a distraction (particularly at school). GPS is frequency reported as inaccurate. Often there seems to be hidden subscription charges also. All suggestions and experiences welcome. Many thanks in advance.

flaneurs_lobster

What exactly are you wanting the device (smartwatch or other) to do? 

Tell the time? Track your child? Measure their daily exercise? Look cool in the playground?

MACKEM99

Amazon do some very reasonable prices which you could try for a first one rather than spend a lot of money to see if he likes/will use?

ballyblack

most smart watches need a smart phone to operate with a mobile app

ButterCheese

I would absolutely not get them a smartwatch.  The cheap ones are rubbish, and the expensive ones are a liability for a child.  My advice would be to get them a cheap android phone.  There's an App called Find my Kids which is free for the basic version, or I htink £8/month for the full version which you don't really need.  I've been using it for my son for the past 4 years and it's worked great.

The rule of thumb at my son's primary school and every other parent I talk to is, get them a phone in year 6 in preparation for secondary school.   They can't be a dstraction at school because most schools don't allow them.  If they get caught, they get detention, it's a good way to teach them responsibility.  

You can always take it off them when they get back from school if you don't want them on it all evening (which they will be)

Kids_Furry_friend

flaneurs_lobster said:

What exactly are you wanting the device (smartwatch or other) to do? 

Tell the time? Track your child? Measure their daily exercise? Look cool in the playground?

I'd like to know that he's decided to stop at the park before coming home, without me worrying. Not interested in exercise measures or looking cool (though I imagine he is interested in looking cool)

Vitor

Good and free rarely coexist with child GPS gadgets. If you want accurate location, secure servers and long-term support, someone has to pay for it. “Free” usually means subsidised by data harvesting or unreliable hardware. If cost, accuracy and privacy all matter, expect to choose two at most.

Kids_Furry_friend

ballyblack said:

most smart watches need a smart phone to operate with a mobile app

I was thinking it could link to my smart phone?

debitcardmayhem

Kids_Furry_friend said:

ballyblack said:

most smart watches need a smart phone to operate with a mobile app

I was thinking it could link to my smart phone?

Only if your phone iss in bluetooth range

flaneurs_lobster

Kids_Furry_friend said:

ballyblack said:

most smart watches need a smart phone to operate with a mobile app

I was thinking it could link to my smart phone?

It could, but unless it is equipped with 4G/GPS that's only going to happen at distances within a few metres. A watch to do this at distance will be a full-fat smart thing and will cost £100+ and the cost of a mobile contract.

This would be true of any device that uses GPS and mobile comms, think car trackers. Need charging regularly too.

The usual way that cheaper devices transmit their location is via the wearer's mobile, when it uses the phone's GPS and comms to do the heavy lifting (and since the mobile itself can be tracked it's rather a waste of time).

You could think about one of the many Bluetooth trackers - they work well in areas where there is a decent concentration of active mobile phones that act as the network. I'm guessing there must be versions of these that are designed to be worn by (or attached to) kids.

Eyeful

Don't encourage him to want expensive stuff at such an early age . It will only then get worse as he grows older.
Just buy him
Casio watch for £20.
Or a cheap dumb phone.

Good health, love, a happy family environment are what a child wants.

It sounds as if you have been caught by the media and become a "Get Stuff Junky"

The children brought up during the World Wars lived through more dangerous times than now.