watchOS 7 to Include Kids Mode That Shifts Focus of Activity Rings Away From Calories Burned

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming watchOS 7 update is expected to include a Kids Mode that's aimed at children who have an Apple Watch for activity tracking purposes, with parents able to control and manage their children's devices.

According to code found in iOS 14 by 9to5Mac, when placed in Kids Mode, an Apple Watch will have different Activity Ring labels and goals than an Apple Watch in a normal adult mode.

While adults see Activity Rings for active calories burned (red), minutes exercised (green), and hours with standing movement (blue), an Apple Watch in Kids Mode will not focus on calories burned.

Instead, the red Activity Ring will track move time alongside exercise time and hours spent with some stand activity. So, for example, the Apple Watch will track a movement goal of 90 minutes instead of 500 active calories burned, providing children with a healthy target to achieve that does not focus on body image.

The new Kids Mode, which will include parental controls limiting access to certain Apple Watch features during school hours, is expected to be included in the watchOS 7 and iOS 14 updates.

Article Link: watchOS 7 to Include Kids Mode That Shifts Focus of Activity Rings Away From Calories Burned

 

[icanhazmac]

So, for example, the Apple Watch will track a movement goal of 90 minutes instead of 500 active calories burned, providing children with a healthy target to achieve that does not focus on body image.

WOW, just wow! How does failing a 'calories burned' goal hurt more than failing a 'movement' goal.

Please include a participation trophy, each day, just for putting your watch on... even if you didn't.

 

[Small White Car]

WOW, just wow! How does failing a 'calories burned' goal hurt more than failing a 'movement' goal.

Please include a participation trophy, each day, just for putting your watch on... even if you didn't.

Having kids focus on diet and calories is a fast track towards developing eating disorders which, of course, can lead to either anorexia or over-eating, neither of which is healthy.

In other words, this change is targeted at making children healthier and developing good eating habits for the rest of their lives.

And yet both of the first replies to this article thinks that’s a bad idea!

Incredible.

 

[TheDailyApple]

I’d like the option to shift focus away from calories for adults as well, not everyone needs to lose weight. I’d like to be able to shift focus to cardio and fitness training.

 

[enu]

Wonder if there'll be a way for app developers to see if a watch is in "Kids Mode" so that 3rd party apps can also produce kid-friendly versions of complications or app interfaces.

 

[KrisLord]

I’m hoping this means it doesn’t need to be connected to a child’s iPhone.

I would get my daughter an Apple Watch before I got her an iPhone.

 

[kildraik]

It would be nice if the Kids Mode reminders focused on psychological conditioning through positive punishment and shaming.

“You don’t want to be a sick, fat adult, do you? Start moving, kid.”

You should also be able to have reminders sent to parents to let their kid be a kid, let them play outside, and let their kids rough house. But, the every day parent doesn’t have any fundamental understanding of psychology, so they probably wouldn’t understand why those are important activities.

 

[citysnaps]

WOW, just wow! How does failing a 'calories burned' goal hurt more than failing a 'movement' goal.

Please include a participation trophy, each day, just for putting your watch on... even if you didn't.

Choices are good. Relax. No need for snark; it's probably not the kind of attention you are seeking.

 

[Wanted797]

I’m hoping this means it doesn’t need to be connected to a child’s iPhone.

I would get my daughter an Apple Watch before I got her an iPhone.

You can already connect multiple watches to one iPhone.

 

[RevTEG]

You can already connect multiple watches to one iPhone.

Yes but why would I want my kids getting all my text? The watch is almost pointless when connected to the same Apple ID.
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All three of my kids would have Apple watches if they could connect them to their iPads. Why would I want my kids to not be able to get their own iMessages like they do on their iPads?

 

[Joniz]

The movement away from calories with kids is a good idea because, I don’t know how many of y’all actually have kids, but they don’t think in terms of calories.

It’s Run! Run! Run! Play! Play! Play!

 

[icanhazmac]

In other words, this change is targeted at making children healthier and developing good eating habits for the rest of their lives.

Really? I don't see any reference in the article to anything regarding good eating habits for life? Can you point it out?

And yet both of the first replies to this article thinks that’s a bad idea!

Not at all, I think helping children lead healthier lives is a great and noble cause. Changing language in order to sugar coat their lives and protect their tender sensibilities is not helpful.

After reading the 9to5 article, which has no reference to "body image" I may have reacted too harshly. The MR article implies that the ring label would be changed to 'movement' vs 'calories burned' as a way to shield a poor child from the body shaming realities of calories. Now, if as the 9to5 article seems to state the change was a way to encourage younger watch users to simply move more with language they can more closely relate to then I am all for it!

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

I’d like the option to shift focus away from calories for adults as well, not everyone needs to lose weight.

I don't need to lose weight either. So, I just replace the calories burned by eating extra donuts, ice cream, cookies, etc... 😋

 

[Joniz]

Not at all, I think helping children lead healthier lives is a great and noble cause. Changing language in order to sugar coat their lives and protect their tender sensibilities is not helpful.

Really? I don't see any reference in the article to anything regarding sugar coating their lives and protecting their tender sensibilities. Can you point it out?

 

[nutmac]

For watchOS to become an ideal kid's watch, it also needs:

• Standalone cellular service
• Managed by a parent's iPhone, iPad, or Mac (rumored watchOS 7 feature)
• Schooltime, a subset of Screen Time rumored for watchOS 7

 

[Small White Car]

Changing language in order to sugar coat their lives and protect their tender sensibilities is not helpful.

Except that it is. You can google up results on this for days, but here’s one result right off the bat:

Should Kids Count Calories?

As adults, we might be very focused on exactly how many steps we take each day, can count calories and fat grams in the food on our dinner plate, and how

amp.drgreene.com

 

[icanhazmac]

Really? I don't see any reference in the article to anything regarding sugar coating their lives and protecting their tender sensibilities. Can you point it out?

Sure... right here:

Apple Watch will track a movement goal of 90 minutes instead of 500 active calories burned, providing children with a healthy target to achieve that does not focus on body image.

Again, my original comments were based on the MR article's twist listed above and not on the original 9to5 article that made no such references.

I am 100% on board with the change as a way to present activity to a young person in language they can relate to as referenced in the 9to5 article.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Even though I don’t have any kids, I think this is a good idea and might be inclined to use such a mode.

 

[SBlue1]

WOW, just wow! How does failing a 'calories burned' goal hurt more than failing a 'movement' goal.

Please include a participation trophy, each day, just for putting your watch on... even if you didn't.

I see you don't have kids. The last thing I want my kids to worry about is calories. The beautiful photoshopped cover people are gonna get them early enough.

 

[Mansu944]

Having kids focus on diet and calories is a fast track towards developing eating disorders which, of course, can lead to either anorexia or over-eating, neither of which is healthy.

In other words, this change is targeted at making children healthier and developing good eating habits for the rest of their lives.

And yet both of the first replies to this article thinks that’s a bad idea!

Incredible.

No it isn't. Good habits are VERY important, not bad.

 

[Chaos215bar2]

Sure... right here:

Apple Watch will track a movement goal of 90 minutes instead of 500 active calories burned, providing children with a healthy target to achieve that does not focus on body image.

Again, my original comments were based on the MR article's twist listed above and not on the original 9to5 article that made no such references.

I am 100% on board with the change as a way to present activity to a young person in language they can relate to as referenced in the 9to5 article.

The aim here is to encourage kids to be healthy. Part of that is, very explicitly, not focusing on how others may see you, but simply being happy with yourself. (Part of this is also being realistic with yourself, obviously, but as has been pointed out many times, providing a calorie count probably isn't a great way to get a kid to do that.)

The fact that people equate body image with health is precisely part of the problem this change is, presumably, trying to help with.

Think of it this way: Would you rather go outside for a run to burn 600 calories, or would you rather go outside for a run, and just happen to burn 600 calories along the way? Now, if you don't simply enjoy activity enough to be healthy without forcing yourself to exercise, wouldn't it have been nice if you had learned that as a kid, rather than just learning that exercise is another chore you have do to burn calories and stay healthy?

 

[alphaswift]

People buy Apple Watches for their kids? Nice. Anyone want to adopt me?

 

[0924487]

“providing children with a healthy target to achieve that does not focus on body image.”

So adults can abuse themselves with body image concerns? Obesity is bad but you don’t need to be beach ready every day by Hollywood standard.

At first I thought it’s about kids are too light to care about calories, or guidelines for kids are not very accurate. For me, I have a fast metabolism and eating more to maintain my weight was the main concern. I set my weight goal above my normal weight many apps get confused. Reverse discrimination...
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No it isn't. Good habits are VERY important, not bad.

Stop bickering! The key is BMI. Stay between 19 and 28 if you are White, or 17 and 24 if you’re East Asian. Ideally, shoot for 21-23 if you are white, and between 19-21 if you’re East Asian. For anyone else, consult the generic guidelines from the WHO (not very good). Or pick one of the above if you are very similar to either White or East Asian genetically. Remember the goal here is to minimize the risk of diseases.

 

[jonblatho]

No it isn't. Good habits are VERY important, not bad.

…and this new feature is just promoting good habits in a different way. It replaces the unit of “Calories,” which is opaque to even a lot of adults.

 

[mariusignorello]

Having kids focus on diet and calories is a fast track towards developing eating disorders which, of course, can lead to either anorexia or over-eating, neither of which is healthy.

In other words, this change is targeted at making children healthier and developing good eating habits for the rest of their lives.

And yet both of the first replies to this article thinks that’s a bad idea!

Incredible.

Uh no, tracking calories and diet does not turn into an eating disorder unless you let it. Most people have no self control whatsoever and that is precisely what leads to eating disorders. Maintaining a healthy weight and diet are both important especially in people that have preexisting conditions (like childhood diabetes).