Best smartwatches for kids

We love that the Spacetalk Adventurer 2 isn’t just a smartwatch for parents; it includes features that kids enjoy too. Your child can choose how to communicate, whether it’s through HD-quality video calls, voice calls, text messages or taking photos through the 5MP camera. The band is slim, light, and flexible, meaning it's comfortable to wear, too.

Another thing we're a big fan of is the parent-controlled contact list. Your child won't be able to add any new contacts themselves - only those with the parental app can do so.

Other features include a fitness tracker, School Mode, reminders and alerts, Safe Zones (geofencing), GPS location tracking (both real-time and historical), and SOS alerts that your kid can use in an emergency. Plus, it's IP67 water-resistant with a tough Gorilla Glass screen, meaning it'll survive after working in the rain or after an drop in the bathtub.

On the downside, it is one of the more expensive kids smart watches on our list. Some features also require a monthly subscription fee (from $5.99), and the battery life leaves a bit to be desired.

If you like the features of the Spacetalk Adventurer but not necessarily the price tag, the Pixbee Kids 4G Smart Watch is a solid kids smart watch when you're on a budget.

It's capable of voice calls and video calls and allows your child to send photos and emojis to a list of parent-approved contacts. Speaking of parents, you can also keep track of your little one's activity thanks to the inbuilt GPS tracker and pedometer.

Other features include Classroom Mode, which allows your child to focus during school hours, SOS alerts, and IP67 water resistance to protect from the occasional splash or spot of rain.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of compromises. Mainly the fact that the battery life could be better, there's no voice-to-text feature, and there are fewer apps and extras than our top kids smart watch.

A common problem among kids' smartwatches is poor battery life. For most products on the market, you're looking at maybe a full day of use, if you're lucky. The Imoo Watch Phone Z1, on the other hand, can easily last a couple of days, making it a good choice for forgetful (or simply very busy!) kiddos.

Though it lacks an SOS calling feature and location history, there's no denying this watch offers great overall value, boasting all the features you'd expect like real-time GPS location tracking, video and voice calling, Class Mode, IPX8 waterproofing and more.

It only comes in two colours (Pink or Green), and the design won't be to everyone's taste, but at this price, it's hard to argue.

Got a little soon-to-be-pro athlete on your hands? The Fitbit Ace 3 is a fun way to track their activity, sleep quality, and challenge friends. It's got fun animated clock faces, a swim proof design, and boasts eight days of battery life. The best part? It's less than $100.

Of course, there are some major omissions when it comes to safety features, since this is a fitness tracker and not a traditional kids' smartwatch or a GPS tracker. It can't give you a live view of your child's whereabouts, and they can't use it to call or text you in a pinch.

That said, there are parental controls available, and it will certainly motivate them to get moving. Plus, for older kids who already have their first smartphone, the Fitbit Ace 3 can display notifications.

The VTech Kidizoom smartwatch is definitely the most fun pick on our list. Retailing for less than $90, it’s one of the most affordable kids' smartwatches on the market. But it really can’t compete with the other watches on our list in terms of features. In fact, it seems to be meant for entertainment and learning rather than safety or as a stepping stone to independence.

This isn’t a GPS tracker, nor does it support texting or calling, as it's designed for kids as young as four. But if your little one feels super left out when their older sibling gets a cool new gadget, this is what you could give them to keep them entertained.

This watch features dual cameras, over 50 digital and analog watch faces, a timer, alarm, and calendar. But the best feature is by far the games it offers, including some augmented reality games using the cameras!

Unless you have one to hand down, the Apple Watch is an expensive choice for a kid's smartwatch. But it does work. Choose an Apple Watch (or cheaper Apple Watch SE) with cellular connectivity and add it to a Family Sharing account to get started. You'll be able to manage apps, control contacts and screen time, and see your child's location from your own iPhone.

Outside of second-hand and refurbished models, the most affordable option we found retails for close to $500. Expect to pay more for different colours or the latest release. The watch also needs an eSIM-compatible mobile plan, which will incur an additional monthly plan fee.

On the plus side, your kid will have a full-fledged smartwatch once they outgrow the parental controls.