What Should I Look for When Buying GPS Watches for Kids?

With kids being more independent than ever before, parents want to both foster their sense of freedom while at the same time ensuring the most important thing: safety. There is nothing scarier than not knowing where your child is or not being able to call or get in contact with him or her. Many of us have had those scary moments at the mall or a crowded amusement park where one second, our child is standing by our side, and the next, he’s gone. Most of the time, you set your eyes on him in a few moments, with your child just having wandered off a bit. But there are other times where you aren’t right there to protect him, and that is where a GPS smartwatch comes in.

One of the best ways to bridge the gap between independence and safety is purchasing a GPS Smartwatch for your child. These GPS tracker devices won’t make your child feel that he is being “watched” because they function as normal watches, and many of them even come with fun features like cameras and games. While your kid is enjoying his or her new wearable technology, you will have peace of mind knowing that you can access their location in real time, as well as where they’ve been for the past few hours, and can call or message them anytime, anywhere.

In this article, you will be able to compare brands and prices to see what kinds of GPS smartwatch options are on the market and what product will work best for your family. We will share the best GPS watches overall, as well as products with specifications like being waterproof and what low price options are on the market.

What Should I Look for When Buying GPS Watches for Kids?

Criteria #1: Accurate location-based tracking. After all, real time GPS tracking is the most important function on this watch, as you want to be able to precisely locate your child at a moment’s notice.
Criteria #2: Additional safety features like geotracking/geofencing, a one-touch SOS button for emergencies, and two way communication. With geotracking, you will be able to set predetermined safety zones for your child, and the watch will send you alerts when your child exits those boundaries. SOS alerts are important for emergency situations, when your child will be able to call you instantly with the push of a button.
Criteria #3: Battery life. At the end of the day, technology is only as good as the amount of time it can last. You want to make sure you’re purchasing a watch with a substantial battery life to ensure that you will be able to call or message your child for the entire duration of the time they are away from home.

Here’s How We’ve Determined the Best GPS Watches for Kids

In choosing the best GPS smartwatches for kids, we factored in a number of features. The most important features relate to safety, so we took a look at smartwatches with excellent GPS tracking technology so that you can know where your kids are in real time and at any moment you need.

We also took into account other important safety features like geofencing, SOS emergency buttons, and two way communication. Other considerations we made when evaluating these GPS watches included the “extras.” Some of the smartwatches on this list include a camera, games, alarm, and flashlight.

#1: Verizon Gizmowatch 2 (Best Value – All-Purpose)

Get the Verizon Gizmowatch 2 at Verizon.com

The Verizon GizmoWatch 2 is a 4G, kid-friendly GPS watch designed with your child’s safety in mind. It can stay charged for up to 4 days when in use and up to 7 days when in standby mode. You can check the location of your child’s GizmoWatch 2 directly from your smartphone by downloading the GizmoHub app, which also allows you to set location boundaries and receive automated alerts when your child exceeds them.

The Verizon GizmoWatch 2 is the best all-purpose GPS smartwatch value for the money for a number of reasons. First, you can rely on the nation’s largest 4G LTE network. This device allows for two way voice calling and messaging (which not all GPS smartwatches allow for). You can load the device with the up to 10 pre-set phone numbers to ensure that your child always has someone to call should he need to.

Aside from the safety features that these gizmo watches offers, they also feature a fitness tracker, allowing your child to get excited about fitness by setting and reaching their own personal exercise goals. The Verizon GizmoWatch 2 is IPX7 compliant, meaning that you can drop it into up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and your device should still work. It also comes with a silent mode so that your child can wear it during the school day without distractions.

Parents like this GPS kids watch for their children who they feel are too young for a smart phone, yet they still want to give their child that extra sense of freedom while still being able to call them to know they’re safe.

#2: TickTalk 3 (Best Splurge)

Get the TickTalk 3 Watch at Amazon

The TickTalk 3 is a 4G GPS smartwatch designed for kids that combines video and voice calling, WiFi calling, smart messaging, and GPS tracking capabilities. TickTalk’s main mission is to connect the family in a fun and safe way. They know that not all kids are ready for the responsibility of a cell phone, and they’ve decided to solve that with a reliable, state-of-the-art product.

On a Budget? Try These:

#1 Budget: Themoemoe Kids Smartwatch

Get the Themoemoe Kids Smartwatch at Amazon

#2 Budget: Turnmeon’s Smartwatch for Kids

Get the Turnmeon’s Smartwatch for Kids at Amazon

#3 Budget: Vailsa Smartwatch

Get the Vailsa Smartwatch at Amazon

Verdict: Your Best GPS Watches for Kids

If you want the best value for your money, pick the Verizon GizmoWatch 2.

If you specifically want the best waterproof option, pick the LDB Direct Kids Smart Watch.

If you want to keep the spend under $40, pick the WillowWind Kids Smartwatch.

A GPS smartwatch is more than just a fashionable fun gift for your child’s next birthday. These GPS tracking devices could help you locate your child in an emergency situation, and therefore you want to be sure when choosing the device that’s right for you that you are prioritizing health and safety.