Establishing healthy tech habits with your kids early on can do you a world of good in the long run. Instead of handing your toddlers advanced iPhones, gradually introduce them to more advanced gadgets. Kid-friendly smartwatches and phones teach kids digital independence while giving you the freedom to make sure they’re safe.
Another way to protect your kids is by using Kim’s secrets to success. Tap or click here for five ways to protect your child online. These general guidelines can help you weather any storm your kid’s internet surfing may cause — and they’re sure to stumble across some issues, given the nature of the internet.
Luckily, smartwatches for kids are designed to combat any digital disasters lying in wait for your children. If you’re not sure which gadgets to pick, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few devices to check out — as well as how one parent in this position found a solution.
It’s not easy
Imagine buying a smartwatch for each of your seven children. One of our listeners called in with this conundrum. Joshua Nath from Sioux Falls, Minnesota has seven kids ranging in age from six to fourteen — and they’re starting to want their own devices.
“My wife and I were looking at getting them some smartwatches with GPS location and wanted to find out what types would be the best one,” he wrote in a letter to Kim. If you ever want to ask Kim your digital questions, use this form. That’s how Joshua reached out to the Kim Komando Show.
When he rang Kim’s phone and spoke on the show, he explained his specific plan. He wants to find a smartwatch his kids can use to call three to four people. He also wants to control when they’re able to call and which apps they can use.
If you’re a longtime fan of the Kim Komando Show, you know Kim loves to do random acts of kindness. After hearing about how Joshua adopted some children, her heart went out to him. Since each one of his kids had unique needs, she sent him $350 — or $50 for each kid — so he could find the ideal gadget for their unique needs.
Check out these smartwatches for kids
Joshua found a company called Angel Watch. Its products have geofencing features as well as a schedule that parents can set for the watches. These gadgets limit inbound calls except for numbers in their phone lists, so you don’t have to worry about creepy randos harassing your kids.
Another smartwatch that lets you set schedules and activities is the range is the 4G Kids Smart Watch. It even sends you alarm prompts when your kids leave an area you set in your GPS.
It’s also great for emergency situations since your kid can press and hold an SOS button for the watch to automatically call three preset phone numbers. It also offers games, Bluetooth connection, a phone book, location services, classroom mode and more.
If you don’t have much cash on hand, no worries. For less than $30, you can get this Ogihisu Smart Watch for Kids, which comes with an SOS system as well as calling features. It also has a flashlight, camera, calendar and alarm.
However, it doesn’t have GPS options, so you can’t keep track of your child’s location. You can track them by clipping an Apple AirTag to their belt buckle. Tap or click here to learn how these nifty Bluetooth trackers work.
Important resources for parents
Setting up parental controls is no walk in the park. If you’re dealing with a technologically advanced kid, trying to protect them can feel like stopping sand from falling through your fingers. Whiz kids can wiggle around even the most stringent standards thanks to tips from their friends and social media.
If you want to find out how dangers are slipping through your digital defenses, we’ve got you covered. Tap or click here to find out how the kids are getting around your parental controls. This security tip sheds light on the online dangers going on right beneath your nose.
It’s easier to keep your kids safe if you sit down and teach them about the responsibility of using the internet. That’s why Kim put together a technology contract that you sign with your kid that ensures you’re on the same page when it comes to internet safety. Tap or click here to use Kim’s free parent-child technology contract.