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Kids Smart Watch

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  • 08-01-2019 12:13pm
    #1
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭


    Hi folks

    Apologies if this question has been asked already but I could not find it. Is anyone aware of a kids smart-watch on the market which allows parents to track and contact their kids, that also allows the option for the child to use it as a GPS running watch? I’m aware of plenty of watches that count the number of steps, but don’t measure distance.

    Any help on this would be great!

    Thanks


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    #2
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    It'll need to be connected to a phone. So just look into getting a phone.

    I'd personally be weary of giving a kid anything hi-tech. As it makes them a very easy target for mugging.


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    #3
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    Dravokivich wrote: »
    It'll need to be connected to a phone. So just look into getting a phone.

    I'd personally be weary of giving a kid anything hi-tech. As it makes them a very easy target for mugging.

    He won't be getting a phone, and there are lots of watches on the market that do not need to be connected to a phone. Agree about the mugging issue, so don't want to be spending a small fortune.

    Other recommendations welcome!


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    #4
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users Posts: 14,993 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    https://www.pigsback.com/en-ie/offer/410552/ty-direct

    What about something like that? I'm some time away from needing similar but would be curious to see what people use themselves.


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    #5
    ESMITH29
    Registered Users Posts: 83 ✭✭ESMITH29


    PGL wrote: »
    He won't be getting a phone, and there are lots of watches on the market that do not need to be connected to a phone. Agree about the mugging issue, so don't want to be spending a small fortune.

    Other recommendations welcome!

    It'll need to be connected to a phone or have a SIM reader in order to communicate the data back to you. The watch cannot do this without the use of an internet connection, which is where the phone or SIM comes into play.

    The watch sends the location data to the phone and the phone then transmits that to you.

    How old is the child, it may make it easier to look into things for you.


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    #6
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    ESMITH29 wrote: »
    It'll need to be connected to a phone or have a SIM reader in order to communicate the data back to you. The watch cannot do this without the use of an internet connection, which is where the phone or SIM comes into play.

    The watch sends the location data to the phone and the phone then transmits that to you.

    How old is the child, it may make it easier to look into things for you.

    I'm aware of the need for a SIM card. My son is 9 years old. Thanks


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    #7
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    Kintarō Hattori wrote: »
    https://www.pigsback.com/en-ie/offer/410552/ty-direct

    What about something like that? I'm some time away from needing similar but would be curious to see what people use themselves.

    thanks for response. this item seems to tick a lot of boxes, but there's no mention of it measuring distances, or even counting steps....


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    #8
    3DataModem
    Registered Users Posts: 3,997 ✭✭✭3DataModem


    The Vodafone Kids watch allows tracking, voice messages to you and any phones you approve.

    It does not track steps.

    It has a sim card (no phone connection needed), and the plan costs 3 euro per month.

    They were half price before xmas (65.00) and not bad value, if that's what your are looking for.


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    #9
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    3DataModem wrote: »
    The Vodafone Kids watch allows tracking, voice messages to you and any phones you approve.

    It does not track steps.

    It has a sim card (no phone connection needed), and the plan costs 3 euro per month.

    They were half price before xmas (65.00) and not bad value, if that's what your are looking for.

    thanks for your response. again this seems to tick a lot of boxes, but unfortunately does not count steps or measure distance


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    #10
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    Just to clarify, I need the watch to measure distance as he wants to use it for his Parkruns each weekend


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    #11
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users Posts: 14,993 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    PGL wrote: »
    Just to clarify, I need the watch to measure distance as he wants to use it for his Parkruns each weekend

    I think you're looking for something which at the moment doesn't appear to exist. Plenty of adult orientated watches will do that but they aren't designed for kids and are a lot more expensive.


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    #12
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    Kintarō Hattori wrote: »
    I think you're looking for something which at the moment doesn't appear to exist. Plenty of adult orientated watches will do that but they aren't designed for kids and are a lot more expensive.

    You could be right, but if its possible for a parent to remotely track the whereabouts of their child, then its technically possible to measure distances on the watch. I won't give up hope just yet, so any other suggestions are welcome!


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    #13
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,908 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    Could you lend him a fitbit or old phone with appropriate app or something just for the parkruns to start?


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    #14
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    shesty wrote: »
    Could you lend him a fitbit or old phone with appropriate app or something just for the parkruns to start?

    It's his birthday and he would like a new smart watch. I do not want to give him a phone (even for limited use as you suggest) at this early stage, as he has enough exposure to screens already!


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    #15
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    If he's registered with parkruns, don't they track his times?

    It seems to me you are expecting too much of technology and getting carried away by what a child wants.


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    #16
    ancapallliath
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭ancapallliath


    is the Doki Watch available here? I think this is the kind of thing you are looking for OP


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    #17
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    Dravokivich wrote: »
    If he's registered with parkruns, don't they track his times?

    Yes, but when he's doing other training runs, he has no means of tracking his progress.
    Dravokivich wrote: »
    It seems to me you are expecting too much of technology and getting carried away by what a child wants.

    I disagree with you on the technology comment, and I do not bow to the demands of my children!


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    #18
    ESMITH29
    Registered Users Posts: 83 ✭✭ESMITH29


    Maybe just get him a watch that does what he wants and doesn't allow you to track him so. You may grow accustomed to having a constant update of your son's location and this may be difficult to let go of, when he's too old for that carry on, which isn't far down the line considering he's 9.


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    #19
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    ESMITH29 wrote: »
    Maybe just get him a watch that does what he wants and doesn't allow you to track him so. You may grow accustomed to having a constant update of your son's location and this may be difficult to let go of, when he's too old for that carry on, which isn't far down the line considering he's 9.

    I agree that it's not very healthy to be tracking every move your child makes. My main priority is to get a relatively cheap watch that he can use for running - if it has a few other features that would be a bonus


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    #20
    PGL
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭PGL


    ancapallliath wrote: »
    is the Doki Watch available here? I think this is the kind of thing you are looking for OP

    I don't know if its available here, but it can't be used for running.


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