S4 for child, such thing as locked band?

[brock2621]

So peeps with kids chime in, I’ve got a 6 year old about to turn 7 and want to know where he is and have the ability to call my anytime. This is probably stupid but was considering getting him an Apple Watch with cell, but I’m wondering if there is such thing as a band that locks? Only reason I ask is that it will be stolen by bullies at school or he’ll trade it for a candy bar if it doesn’t .

I would def be getting the lost/stolen insurance and putting it to the test.

My only worry though is it getting caught on something and hurt him, in the same way that people that are active wear silicone wedding bands cuz they’ve had their fingers ripped off.

Does a lock band exist anywhere?

 

[pedregosa]

Seriously?

 

[KarimLeVallois]

There are many, many cheaper network enabled watches for children out there.

 

[DeltaMac]

This idea feels to me like you want the watch to be constant contact, with a usage like a cell phone. Why not ask at the school, as many schools don't allow cell phones during school hours? I suspect they would regard that Watch in the same way as a cell phone (and NOT at school at all)

(Security lock? on your child's wrist? How about handcuffs? I guess you are struggling with "letting go", and giving your child some space

 

[ob81]

Get a sport used Series 3. Don’t need a 4. Get the new sports band that wraps around. Only thing is he needs a phone to associate the watch with.

 

[AlliFlowers]

In our school system, we don't allow smart watches or cell phones during testing. In the elementary and most middle schools we don't allow either all year.

If you're serious, you definitely want to check school policies first.

Personally, as both a parent and a teacher, I think it's a terrible idea.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Only reason I ask is that it will be stolen by bullies at school or he’ll trade it for a candy bar if it doesn’t .

If your child's school has a bullying problem of that magnitude (and at such a young age no less), I think that's the greater issue that needs solving first before thinking of giving your kid a $500 smartwatch...

Also, fragility. Give your kid an indestructible, cheap Nokia dumbphone to keep in their bag. Children are thoughtless by design and would probably scratch or crack that watch display in a few days during play. It'd be good money down the tubes for no reason.

I guess you are struggling with "letting go", and giving your child some space

A 6-year-old doesn't need (or even want) parents who "let go".

 

[DeltaMac]

...
A 6-year-old doesn't need (or even want) parents who "let go".

Point taken - but OP wanting to lock a watch to a 6-year-old's wrist, ostensibly to prevent theft, is a bit mis-guided, don't you think?

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Point taken - but OP wanting to lock a watch to a 6-year-old's wrist, ostensibly to prevent theft, is a bit mis-guided, don't you think?

May as well put around their ankle as a tag lol

 

[sean000]

May as well put around their ankle as a tag lol

That's exactly what jumped to my mind

If I had more time I would have photoshopped an Apple Watch face up there.

 

[Akrapovic]

Ignoring all the (correct) comments about the moral side of locking a device to your child - that thing is getting broken. I have a 14 year old and an 8 year old. They have some old iPhones, and even with a hardcore screen protector and heavy case, they manage to break things. A watch they cannot take off will get broken. How many times does your kid fall over? Or bump themselves in a playpark? It's practically a kids job to get hurt. So strap an expensive watch to their arm and that gets hurt with the kid.

You're also boxing yourself into day to day issues regarding tests, PE, chemistry experiments, etc. It sounds silly, but you will eventually have a problem that makes you think it was a daft idea.

 

[sean000]

So peeps with kids chime in, I’ve got a 6 year old about to turn 7 and want to know where he is and have the ability to call my anytime. This is probably stupid but was considering getting him an Apple Watch with cell, but I’m wondering if there is such thing as a band that locks? Only reason I ask is that it will be stolen by bullies at school or he’ll trade it for a candy bar if it doesn’t .

I would def be getting the lost/stolen insurance and putting it to the test.

My only worry though is it getting caught on something and hurt him, in the same way that people that are active wear silicone wedding bands cuz they’ve had their fingers ripped off.

Does a lock band exist anywhere?

Okay... so apologies that most of us made light of this question (including myself, because an ankle monitor is the first thing that popped into my head), but this question has come up before and is a thought many parents of young children have.

I have a 6 year old and an 8 year old, and of course the 8 year old keeps asking me when she is going to get her own iPhone (not for many, many years). There are companies out there that make smartwatches and phones that are designed to do only a few things: Allow you to track your child (some of them), allow your child to phone or text home (as well as a few other emergency contacts defined by the parents), and provide some games or fun features so your kids don't feel like they are wearing an ankle monitor. I remember looking at one out of curiosity (not something I feel we need) and there was a somewhat reasonable monthly fee for the service.

There are obviously concerns about locking the device to the child, because it could be dangerous if it gets snagged on something as they are scrambling around the playground. In fact you would probably want a band that breaks away when a certain amount of force is applied. Another concern is that it would make them the target of bullies. That may not be an issue in 1st or 2nd grade, but you never know. They could be distracting as well, so a lot of schools and teachers won't allow something like this unless special circumstances demonstrate a unique need. I can remember one of my 4th grade teachers in the 80's telling me I couldn't wear my Casio calculator watch in the classroom, because it was distracting me and other students.

Like any parent, it's natural to want to know where your kids are, and to want an immediate two way communication line with them. This is why many parents give in and buy their teens smartphones. At that age they are becoming more independent. They want a smartphone for their reasons, and you want them to have one for your reasons. But at 7 or 8 they are in a very controlled environment all the time. They are never far from a phone, or an adult who has a mobile phone. Kids that age can be very resourceful. If they need to get in touch with you, they will find a way or ask an adult.

Your situation might be different, and you may have reasons why you want your child to be more virtually connected to you. The first thing you should do is talk to your school's administrative office to get the principal's recommendation. Tell him or her your concerns and see what they recommend. In most cases they will probably advise against such a device, or may point to an existing policy (which may not stand up to special circumstances, if there are any). They may also be able to tell you about devices other parents of purchased, and how that worked out for the student.

PS: If you want to see how terribly wrong parental monitoring tools can go, seek out an episode of Black Mirror called "Arkangel." Yes it's fiction that is based on technology not yet (and hopefully never) available, but it's really interesting to watch as a parent because it makes you wonder how far you'd go to keep your kids safe.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

but OP wanting to lock a watch to a 6-year-old's wrist, ostensibly to prevent theft, is a bit mis-guided, don't you think?

Well, I already said as much in my post...

 

[brock2621]

This idea feels to me like you want the watch to be constant contact, with a usage like a cell phone. Why not ask at the school, as many schools don't allow cell phones during school hours? I suspect they would regard that Watch in the same way as a cell phone (and NOT at school at all)

(Security lock? on your child's wrist? How about handcuffs? I guess you are struggling with "letting go", and giving your child some space

For context, his mother and I are divorced and he is shuffled between each of us and two different sides of the family’s extended relatives (grandparents), and also does baseball, gymnastics, Boy Scouts, soccer and basketball.

I’d be in a more relaxed mental position of “letting go” if he was self sufficient to get to where he needs to be, but right now it’s incredibly difficult to keep everyone in the family up to date, in addition to taking care of his sibling’s schedules as well.

There are some other things I’d rather not get into but communication sometimes only comes through attorneys and there are other men “dating” his mother that I know will be around my child.

 

[Disneymom2003]

Verizon has a watch for children that can receive texts and calls from people you determine. It also has GPS. Right now it’s $50. You will have a monthly bill. Not sure how much that would be. GizmoGadget

 

[Breezygirl]

For context, his mother and I are divorced and he is shuffled between each of us and two different sides of the family’s extended relatives (grandparents), and also does baseball, gymnastics, Boy Scouts, soccer and basketball.

I’d be in a more relaxed mental position of “letting go” if he was self sufficient to get to where he needs to be, but right now it’s incredibly difficult to keep everyone in the family up to date, in addition to taking care of his sibling’s schedules as well.

There are some other things I’d rather not get into but communication sometimes only comes through attorneys and there are other men “dating” his mother that I know will be around my child.

A watch is not going to solve your issues. Oh my. If you feel your child is in danger because your ex is dating, talk to your lawyer. Families have dealt with scheduling forever without the need for $400 watches to be locked on their children, you seem to have control issues.

 

[sparkie1984]

As others have said I can’t believe equipping a 7 y.o. With an Apple Watch is the way to go.

It’ll get lost / smashed or worse they’re an easy target for theft! Not to mention being bullied for it.

Is their life so chaotic you don’t know where they are at any given moment? (it seems by what you’ve said above he’s constantly on the move between family) perhaps slow it all down a bit.

I’m sure there are other products out there that are far cheaper and more discreet than a massive blinging watch on a child’s wrists.

These other men aren’t going to be scared off by a 7 y.o. With an Apple Watch.

If you’re that concerned for his safety as poster above speak to a lawyer. I really cannot see how an Apple Watch will solve this predicament to be honest.

Sounds more like a cheap phone for emergencies it the way to go.

https://www.safewise.com/resources/wearable-gps-tracking-devices-for-kids-guide

 

[bunnicula]

Give him a dumb phone. No kid will want to steal it. He can keep it in his backpack at school and not show it to friends. He can still make and receive calls and texts to/from you.

I started each of my (now adult...well, youngest is 17) kids with dumb phones. My daughter was the youngest to have a handed-down iPhone...she was 10 when she got it.

She got her first dumb phone in 3rd grade.

Kids can handle phones if you practice phone management with them.

If your child will give people a phone for candy, you have a far more serious problem than you think. Kids at age 6 should already respect costly items.

 

[Vermifuge]

For context, his mother and I are divorced and he is shuffled between each of us and two different sides of the family’s extended relatives (grandparents), and also does baseball, gymnastics, Boy Scouts, soccer and basketball.

I’d be in a more relaxed mental position of “letting go” if he was self sufficient to get to where he needs to be, but right now it’s incredibly difficult to keep everyone in the family up to date, in addition to taking care of his sibling’s schedules as well.

There are some other things I’d rather not get into but communication sometimes only comes through attorneys and there are other men “dating” his mother that I know will be around my child.

And how would he charge it on one of those visitations if it was locked?

 

[Lennyvalentin]

but right now it’s incredibly difficult to keep everyone in the family up to date, in addition to taking care of his sibling’s schedules as well.

I'm presumptious to be an unknown person on the internet speaking about your family I know, but yeah, I should think so! Especially if his siblings' days are equally packed with activities. Four sports and scrouting on top, when does your kid have time to just be a kid and play with his friends? Also, aren't you missing opportunities to be with your kid(s)?

You should perhaps consider trimming it down. Research shows that kids being too active due to jampacked schedules become stressed, and also that often all those activities point at overly ambitious parents wanting to shine in the eyes of their surroundings.

When I was a kid of that age and up (this was the 1970s btw), I did scouting for a while. Then I did basketball for a while. Then I did swimming for most of the rest of my formative years. I don't think I know of any kid I grew up with who did more than one or maybe two organized activities per week, let alone five.

But I'm just a faceless voice on the internet. Don't listen to me, do as your heart tells you.

 

[mollyc]

My kids begged me for years for a phone (whose don't) but as a SAHM I never felt they needed them. They would list of their friends who had phones and those kids all had divorced parents or were heavily involved in sports and carpools where there was a chance the child could miss getting picked up. So I do think in the OP's story, there is, if not a need, then a precedent for a seven year old to have a phone. Especially if the parents have such a relationship to only talk through lawyers. My daughter got her first phone just before she turned 12 and my son got my husband's hand me down phone this summer at age 10. And only because he really wanted a watch and needed the phone for it. My daughter, almost 13, got a watch yesterday. My son has a couple of specific use cases where a watch for him makes logical, life-skills sense for him, rather than just being a novelty.

That said, I don't agree with a locking band. What I would recommend if you really want to pursue this route is to get a Series 3 - they are now marked down to $279 in advance of next week's release. A 7YO doesn't need the larger screen the S4 offers, and not the new heart rate stuff either. Go with the S3 and save some money, and put that to a new band/case from Amazon. My kids and I each have an Umtele band/case that cost $8 on Amazon. My kids can only wear the watch to school if they wear the case, because they will fall down at recess, get pushed into a locker accidentally, have a ball thrown at them at gym. I have found that so many kids have phones nowadays that when the kid with the new phone comes in, they all fawn over it, and then get back to business. There is no stealing of phones or bullying for watches. (Although my son is going to be 11 in a couple of weeks and is over 5' and weighs 110 pounds; not too many kids try to beat him up). But phones, and now watches, are becoming fairly standard issue even for younger kids that theft wouldn't really be an issue for me, unless you live in a rough neighborhood. And the watch doesn't work without the phone, so stealing it doesn't get anyone anything.

Of course, you do have to trust your child to not trade it. And perhaps you'd want to consider the cellular version for him so that he doesn't have to carry the watch AND the phone. Yes, it would cost more per month, but it's only one thing to track, but also much less distractions with no apps, etc., but he can still call/text in an emergency. I would treat the watch as an emergency device, and not a primary device, even if he wears it all the time.

 

[brock2621]

As others have said I can’t believe equipping a 7 y.o. With an Apple Watch is the way to go.

It’ll get lost / smashed or worse they’re an easy target for theft! Not to mention being bullied for it.

Is their life so chaotic you don’t know where they are at any given moment? (it seems by what you’ve said above he’s constantly on the move between family) perhaps slow it all down a bit.

I’m sure there are other products out there that are far cheaper and more discreet than a massive blinging watch on a child’s wrists.

These other men aren’t going to be scared off by a 7 y.o. With an Apple Watch.

If you’re that concerned for his safety as poster above speak to a lawyer. I really cannot see how an Apple Watch will solve this predicament to be honest.

Sounds more like a cheap phone for emergencies it the way to go.

https://www.safewise.com/resources/wearable-gps-tracking-devices-for-kids-guide

This looks like the way to go. You all convinced me. This is awesome and generally does what I’m wanting overall.

Appreciate al the input everyone
[doublepost=1537104682][/doublepost]

My kids begged me for years for a phone (whose don't) but as a SAHM I never felt they needed them. They would list of their friends who had phones and those kids all had divorced parents or were heavily involved in sports and carpools where there was a chance the child could miss getting picked up. So I do think in the OP's story, there is, if not a need, then a precedent for a seven year old to have a phone. Especially if the parents have such a relationship to only talk through lawyers. My daughter got her first phone just before she turned 12 and my son got my husband's hand me down phone this summer at age 10. And only because he really wanted a watch and needed the phone for it. My daughter, almost 13, got a watch yesterday. My son has a couple of specific use cases where a watch for him makes logical, life-skills sense for him, rather than just being a novelty.

That said, I don't agree with a locking band. What I would recommend if you really want to pursue this route is to get a Series 3 - they are now marked down to $279 in advance of next week's release. A 7YO doesn't need the larger screen the S4 offers, and not the new heart rate stuff either. Go with the S3 and save some money, and put that to a new band/case from Amazon. My kids and I each have an Umtele band/case that cost $8 on Amazon. My kids can only wear the watch to school if they wear the case, because they will fall down at recess, get pushed into a locker accidentally, have a ball thrown at them at gym. I have found that so many kids have phones nowadays that when the kid with the new phone comes in, they all fawn over it, and then get back to business. There is no stealing of phones or bullying for watches. (Although my son is going to be 11 in a couple of weeks and is over 5' and weighs 110 pounds; not too many kids try to beat him up). But phones, and now watches, are becoming fairly standard issue even for younger kids that theft wouldn't really be an issue for me, unless you live in a rough neighborhood. And the watch doesn't work without the phone, so stealing it doesn't get anyone anything.

Of course, you do have to trust your child to not trade it. And perhaps you'd want to consider the cellular version for him so that he doesn't have to carry the watch AND the phone. Yes, it would cost more per month, but it's only one thing to track, but also much less distractions with no apps, etc., but he can still call/text in an emergency. I would treat the watch as an emergency device, and not a primary device, even if he wears it all the time.

I didn’t see they dropped the price of the gen 3 so much! Imma check out the Angelsense or HereO and if it doesn’t work out I’ll spring for the series 3 after checking with his school admins about their policies on smart watches. Thanks!

 

[btrach144]

So you want to take a device with a high energy battery and strap it to your child? Even if it gets very hot, or even catches fire? (I know, I know, apple uses high quality batteries but there is always the risk)

 

[mollyc]

So you want to take a device with a high energy battery and strap it to your child? Even if it gets very hot, or even catches fire? (I know, I know, apple uses high quality batteries but there is always the risk)

Ummm.... of all the reasons not to give a kid an Apple Watch, spontaneous combustion isn’t at the top of the list.

 

[verdejt]

Here is a list of smart watches for kids.

http://www.smartwatches4u.com/news/Top-Kids-Smartwatches