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Apple's Cutesy New Website Pushes Apple Watch for Kids

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple is encouraging parents to purchase a cellular Apple Watch for their children with a new "Apple Watch For Your Kids" campaign, which appears to be a more informative rebranding of the Apple Watch Family Setup feature that's been around since 2020.

apple-watch-for-kids.jpg

The Apple Watch For Your Kids website walks through how the feature works and the perks. An Apple Watch with cellular can be added to and managed by an adult's iPhone, providing kids with a wrist-worn device for phone calls, text messaging, and location tracking.

Apple touts Schooltime, an option that restrictions notifications and apps during school hours through Do Not Disturb. The Schooltime schedule is set by parents and adds a visible yellow circle to an Apple Watch so teachers are aware the device is not usable during classtime.

Apple also promotes Apple Watch durability and water resistance, as well as the built-in activity tracking options that include workouts for children and activity awards.

The newly rebranded Apple Watch For Your Kids feature is being promoted on the Apple Watch pages, but Apple has not yet updated the support document that walks parents through setup.

Requirements for providing a child with an Apple Watch include a Series 4 or later with GPS + Cellular and a cellular service plan, an iPhone 6s or later (for the parent), a Family Sharing group setup, and Apple IDs for both the parent and child.

Article Link: Apple's Cutesy New Website Pushes Apple Watch for Kids
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/07/10/apple-watch-for-kids-website/
If Apple wants to promote this for kids, they need to make it a lot cheaper with a smaller display. Maybe the new plastic model will be geared towards kids?

It also needs to have a rugged display with a lip around it so it won't break so easily. I've been seriously considering getting something like this for my daughter. I don't think a 5th grader needs an iPhone, even though she says so many of her friends have one. But as she moves into middle school and gets involved in more extra-curricular activities, having a barebones cellular watch that can do basic tasks like encouraging healthy behaviors and allowing her to stay in contact with us and see her location would be great.
 
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Reactions: EDiTOR9, sani_atl, Jovijoker and 13 others
This will need to be fully re-designed in order to stand up to the abuse of children. As an OCD adult, I have to keep mine with screen protectors and rubber bumpers just to keep it from looking like trash.

I also can't picture my standard sized Series 7 on my child's arm..

Apple is REALLY reaching hard on this one.
 
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macduke said:
If Apple wants to promote this for kids, they need to make it a lot cheaper with a smaller display. Maybe the new plastic model will be geared towards kids?
Click to expand...
That’s what I’m thinking, especially with the recent “phone bans” school districts around the globe have been implementing.
There definitely is a huge market for a device that still allows parents to have direct contact, track location and provide some level of communication ability.
The watch is literally perfect for this, and a $99-$149 Watch that has a bright colorful plastic casing would literally fill this niche perfectly.
It also functions as an iPod.
 
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My son has this setup with a AW Cellular SE 2 and it works great. It's better than buying him a phone in 4th grade and paying for an extra line when he's not doing anything with it. The watch lets us call him when he's over at a friends house or somewhere in the neighborhood.
 
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macduke said:
If Apple wants to promote this for kids, they need to make it a lot cheaper with a smaller display. Maybe the new plastic model will be geared towards kids?

It also needs to have a rugged display with a lip around it so it won't break so easily. I've been seriously considering getting something like this for my daughter. I don't think a 5th grader needs an iPhone, even though she says so many of her friends have one. But as she moves into middle school and gets involved in more extra-curricular activities, having a barebones cellular watch that can do basic tasks like encouraging healthy behaviors and allowing her to stay in contact with us and see her location would be great.
Click to expand...
My 11 and 9 year old have Apple watches and its been amazing. They have to request apps if they want to download something and I always know where they are and can call and text them. Applecare is cheap for them and they can use calculator, stop watch, set reminders for themselves. Its been fantastic and I'm going to avoid giving them phones for as long as possible.
 
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I didn't know you could do this; I really like this feature. Gotta figure there will be a child edition of the watch that's announced.. no way a 41mm aluminum can stand up to the wear and tear of a 4th grader.
 
Unless children somehow got a lot more careful with their watches since I was a kid, I'm pretty sure strapping a $300+ device with a lot of glass on the front onto their wrist isn't the best idea. 😅

Wal-Mart sells these "rugged" digital watches for like $20 to $30:

rugged.jpeg


I think they might also come in bright colors, for children with more, uh... discerning... fashion tastes. :p
 
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The lack of international roaming support for these kids watches drives me absolutely *******. That's an Apple-imposed restriction, too! International travel is one of the most useful times for these watches, and they intentionally disallow that. Goddamn it's so ****ing annoying.
 
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I have been considering one of these for my 8 year old, partly as a delay to getting him a phone, but also to track his bike rides/runs - he is pretty sporty. So it is good to hear from other parents that this works. Ideally I would use it as an excuse to upgrade my Watch, but I have the larger, non cellular version.

It seems like the dedicated kids watches from Garmin etc can’t log activities etc.
 
Parents, do your kids a mental health favor and just buy them a Casio G-Shock or something along those lines

Fun, durable, amazing battery life, loads of options of the look and feel ... doesn't try to rope you into "apps" and get you hooked on iOS crack as young as possible
 
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Roadster Lewis said:
I have been considering one of these for my 8 year old, partly as a delay to getting him a phone, but also to track his bike rides/runs - he is pretty sporty. So it is good to hear from other parents that this works. Ideally I would use it as an excuse to upgrade my Watch, but I have the larger, non cellular version.

It seems like the dedicated kids watches from Garmin etc can’t log activities etc.
Click to expand...
Can’t you chip him? That’s safer and cheaper
 
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Maybe that rumor of a “plastic” AW is true, but, pricing is key…
Though I have to say, I am glad that there were none of these gadgets when I grew up though we did get our children iPhones around when they got into high school.
 
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