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An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

nytimes.com

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Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#31

Post by tims33 »

boboralice wrote: post #5

Some of my friends have given their kids FitBits for similar reasons (watch + step tracking + it could be integrated with a phone if the kid has one). But I don't get the idea of an Apple Watch... I'm a small adult and even with the smallest straps standard Apple Watches are WAY too big for my wrists. How big are these kids?!? Also... a full Apple Watch seems like an expensive option for kids who might be playing out…

We gave one to our 10 year old and earlier to our son when he was 12. It’s great for giving them the freedom to go to friends houses or do an activity for school, but also to find them if they’re running late or they weren’t where they were supposed to be. It’s helped end the stupidity of the play date and let the kids be kids.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#32

Post by astorsnk »

jhanschoo wrote: post #27
astorsnk wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> for keeping in touch when they start school Do you mean generally once they’re school aged or while at school? I can’t see a reason a child at school would need to keep in touch with parents while at school. I don’t think I had to call home ever in 14 years of schooling.

A couple decades ago many didn't see many didn't see much use for connecting with people over the Internet either.

Email was 30 years old at that point and was relatively widely used in schools and the workplace so I disagree. Every kid I knew had a Hotmail account and spent hours on MSN Messenger every day.

But my point is more that for a long long time kids have been able to learn independence from family daily at school, in a very safe environment. There’s a lot to lose by availing them of the crutch of constant communication with and tracking by their family.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#33

Post by tims33 »

thenerdhead wrote: post #17

Does this not jeopardize giving kids their autonomy? Feels like the parents saying yes to this may also be in the life360 or obsessively tracking their kids camp. Great for peace of mind, not great for building independence in my opinion.

It increases the autonomy. They get to go out and make decisions. And if I need to track them down because they are late for dinner it’s easy. We don’t use it for any draconian purposes.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#34

Post by shagie »

cknoxrun wrote: post #2

Interesting. I've often considered an Apple Watch for my 9 year old, who struggles with (and benefits from) ADHD and thus would benefit from specific features such as the reminders (especially location-specific), alarms, and overall organization capabilities. But I'm hesitant to open that box just yet... He isn't pining for a smart phone yet, nor do his friends seem to generally own them, so that wouldn't be the moti…

Apple has features in the watch that are intended to be a communication device for people who don't have phones.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/09/apple-extends-the-app...

Things like:

> Family Setup brings a new mode called Schooltime, which will help ensure kids stay focused and attentive while learning at home or in the classroom. During Schooltime, a distinctive yellow circle is displayed on the watch face for teachers and parents to easily recognize, signifying that access to apps is restricted and Do Not Disturb is turned on.

and

> With Family Setup, family members without iPhone can take advantage of the many features and apps on Apple Watch, from making and receiving phone and FaceTime audio calls, to sending and receiving messages and emails, and even connecting with other Apple Watch wearers over Walkie-Talkie. The new Memoji app on Apple Watch allows users to customize a Memoji that can be shared while messaging friends or displayed as a watch face. Parents have the ability to approve all contacts, so kids can safely use the communication features of Apple Watch.

and

> A family member’s location can be shared with their guardian through the Find People app on Apple Watch, and location notifications are more customizable, allowing the guardian to receive an update on their family member’s location for one occasion, or on a recurring or time-based schedule.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#35

Post by w0m »

ceejayoz wrote: post #28
vagrantJin wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> their children have long solo commutes, The same people who'd want to track their kid's every move with an absurdly expensive watch can also turn around and let that same kid commute solo? My brains turnng to mush.

I'm not sure why that's so surprising. I want my kids to develop independenence, but also be able to find them in an emergency.

I'm not sure i understand the Watch here; just sew an AirTag into their underoos if that's the goal for ~1/10th the price.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#36

Post by hijackedt »

I have begrudgingly gotten our kids apple watches for exactly reasons outlined

I am in some latent way, however, concerned with the idea of them wearing a cellular radio directly on their skin all day - I have for the most part avoided any of the EMF/4G/5G handwaving but would love an informed opinion from HN if there is any reason for concern / need to moderate or otherwise?

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#37

Post by prirun »

ceejayoz wrote: post #28
vagrantJin wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> their children have long solo commutes, The same people who'd want to track their kid's every move with an absurdly expensive watch can also turn around and let that same kid commute solo? My brains turnng to mush.

I'm not sure why that's so surprising. I want my kids to develop independenence, but also be able to find them in an emergency.

Could always chip them.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#38

Post by tims33 »

tims33 wrote: post #33
thenerdhead wrote: post #17

Does this not jeopardize giving kids their autonomy? Feels like the parents saying yes to this may also be in the life360 or obsessively tracking their kids camp. Great for peace of mind, not great for building independence in my opinion.

It increases the autonomy. They get to go out and make decisions. And if I need to track them down because they are late for dinner it’s easy. We don’t use it for any draconian purposes.

It also let us delay giving both kids a phone.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#39

Post by pizza234 »

For parents who are opposed to the technology in the hands of children, any senior phone will do, with a broken keyboard, and the speed dial(s) set to the parent phone(s) - this of course, depends on the age of the child. I agree that a persistent communication channel is a helpful tool to develop independence.

Re: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes

#40

Post by ceejayoz »

w0m wrote: post #35
ceejayoz wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure why that's so surprising. I want my kids to develop independenence, but also be able to find them in an emergency.

I'm not sure i understand the Watch here; just sew an AirTag into their underoos if that's the goal for ~1/10th the price.

A cellular watch lets them get directions, text/call me, etc. and don't rely on phones being nearby like AirTags do.

Are you not washing your kids' underoos?

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