A few years ago, my eldest child hit 6th grade and the number of times (a day!) he asked us for a phone went through the roof. We heard all the usual arguments — all his friends had one (some of them since 3rd grade!), he needed to be able to look up info for school assignments, his lack of a phone made him a social outcast…any of these sound familiar?!
For many families, sending kids off to middle school comes with another rite of passage these days: handing over their first mobile phone. We all want our kids to be independent and not feel left out, and we also want to be able to stay in touch when they're away from home more often. And while giving them a mobile phone makes sense, I believe that giving them a smart watch is… well… smarter.
Here are a few reasons why.
No phone needed
Today, there are multiple smartwatch options that don't need to be tethered to a phone. They have a cellular connection, which means they have their own phone number, but you do the setup from your device and then hand it off to your child. Some devices that don't require device tethering include the Apple Watch SE (my recommendation), Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, and the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3.
They're not (as much of) a distraction
Let's face it — mobile phones are a distraction for everybody, perhaps especially us adults! And of course, you can't expect a middle schooler to manage this distraction effectively. Sure, you can put devices away at night, but they'll still creep into your daily routine frequently — whether it's at school, at the dinner table, or just when you're trying to have a conversation (which can be hard enough with a tween!).
They don't have social media apps
There is mounting evidence that social media can have a negative effect on children. (Side note: for a really great, research-based take on the impact technology and social media are having on kids, check out Jonathan Haidt's Substack, After Babel.)
Personally, we have chosen to hold off on letting our kids use any social media — their "social media" is iMessage. Eventually they will, but in my opinion it's best to keep them off it for as long as possible. Smart watches simply don't have social media, so they couldn't use it even if they tried.
They can still make calls
If you get a smartwatch with cellular (which is really the only kind to get for this), your child can still call and text you anytime. And you'd be amazed by the call quality — I really can't tell the difference between the watch and a speakerphone on an iPhone.
They tell you where your child is
Smart watches have GPS, so you can find your child's location at any time using the "Find My" feature on your iPhone or "Find My Device" on Android.
They keep up with your child's activities
Smart watches are usually tougher than phones (Apple, for example, uses a strengthened glass called Ion-X) and more water-resistant. They're also smaller and lighter, which makes them less likely to suffer fall damage. And of course, they're usually strapped to your child's wrist, so say goodbye to lost devices. They can be used when playing sports, in the water — you name it.
You have full control
You set up the smartwatch from your phone and then control which apps can be installed. You can also manage "downtime" for times when you don't want your child using their watch — say, during class.
They are less expensive than mobile phones
Both the setup cost and the monthly fee will be lower than a typical mobile phone. You can buy most watches for less than $250 upfront, so you'll just be paying the monthly fee for the line (which includes cellular service), usually at a special "wearable" rate. Many mobile providers also offer payment plans or discounts.
You can supplement them with a tablet
If your child already has a tablet, they can set up their phone number on it and sync messages between the two devices. Ditto for apps that are available on both devices. This is a great way to give your child a bit more capability than a watch when they're home and not completely unsupervised.
What smartwatch to get
My strong recommendation is the Apple Watch 1. It includes cellular service, comes in multiple watch sizes, and is reasonably priced. It also has all the features of its more grown-up siblings, so you won't miss out on anything. The setup features and parental controls are second to none. The one caveat is that you'll need an iPhone to set it up — so if you're an Android family, you'll want the Android recommendation instead.
If you prefer the Android ecosystem, your best option is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (or a newer model), which you can set up as a standalone device. And if you want something inexpensive and don't care about syncing with iMessage or Android messaging, the Verizon Gizmo Watch 1 is also a great option for younger children. There is also the TickTalk 5, if you don't want to be tethered to the Apple or Android ecosystem (or if you and your partner have different types of phones).
Note that in most cases, you'll want to pay up front for the device so it's unlocked. From there, you can contact your cellular provider to activate the number. However, if you're on AT&T or Verizon, you can streamline this by buying the device from Best Buy or directly from your cellular provider — you'll also be able to opt into a payment plan.
I hope this helps you and your child ease into the ocean that is today's technology.
Cheers!
— Ben