The constant monitoring of parents
Parents know and are aware that a day will come when it's time to let their kids become independent. We can imagine how challenging this event can be because parents are very used to being there to assist and support their "babies" from the moment they are born. "Worried sick" will probably be the first feeling a parent experiences, which may torment them with frustration, worry, and overwhelming daily anxiety as their children walk or board the bus alone. But hey! Get yourself together! All parents will go through these twisted emotional turns, so let's be rational; it does not mean that kids are left unattended by a parent. It means that kids will eventually pick up after themselves, and parents will need to consider it part of a very long process of becoming independent. Remember, developing independence is an essential step in a child's life. Independence is a life skill that helps with self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-reliance. These everyday struggles will gradually help children cope with life's responsibilities.
Smartwatch for kids
Remember, this is the 21st century. Everything is functional and accessible in today's world. Many manufacturers have continuously thought of ways to improve our daily human lives, so we don't have to be challenged by life issues constantly. The smartwatch was the initial idea to create a wearable computer that could be worn on the wrist. Why? It was considered a smart idea because it's portable, weightless, and can be strapped to your wrist. It was purposely developed as a lighter assistant to the smartphone where you could check messages and make calls. Eventually, it was sold as a health tracker.
Smartwatches have become so popular that many consumers favor kids' GPS watches. The main selling point of a Kid's GPS watch is the GPS tracker. The device uses GPS technology, a network of satellites in space, to locate where you are. This advantage may help parents locate their kids when parents cannot monitor their daily activities.
Should children be allowed to use a smartwatch? It depends. As a parent, you must consider, research, and decide whether buying your child a smartwatch would be beneficial. Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of GPS watches for kids might be helpful before deciding. So here are several key points you can review and take into consideration.
Advantages of GPS watch for kids
- Track your kid's location in real-time.
Whether kids are on their way to school, on foot or the bus, on a field trip, going to the skate park, or just going to a friend's house next door, it can cause significant agony to parents. A parent's primary concern is the constant anxiety and fretting about being away from loved ones. Kids are unpredictable, can lose track of time, and even accidentally forget their way home. Smartwatches equipped with GPS and linked to a cellular service allows parents to monitor a child's location when not together.
- Stay in touch without the use of a smartphone.
You don't want to buy your kids a smartphone, but you need to connect with your kids. This is the dilemma. Opting for the smartwatch may be advantageous because smartphones are not intended for tiny humans. Smartphones are riskier as they can quickly lose or break expensive devices during their commute. Some smartwatches may be provided separately with a SIM card to allow accessible communication.
- Easy monitoring of your kid's communication
Smartwatches must be connected to smartphones, meaning parents can access messaging apps. This way, parents can monitor kids' interactions with others through their messages. But wait, don't think of this as spying on your kid's chats. No, let's call it supervised message interaction for safety measures because the parent still has control of contacts.
- We are considering the fun use of gadgets.
A kid's smartwatch is made for kids. Therefore, the designers have designed the device through a lot of research. Some great ideas are the nice-looking bright colors and rubber straps as a fashion accessory that may boost self-confidence.
Nothing is more important than safety and security when we talk about kids. The kid's GPS smartwatch is one device that can help give parents peace of mind. Tracking kids' activity locations when parents cannot attend to them has been the quickest and simplest way of child monitoring this century. GPS tracking can point to a position with no distance limit. So one other less-worry attempt here.
- Quick alert during emergency
We hope no kid has ever had to push an emergency button on their smartwatch. But designers have designed the kid's tracker watches with features like the SOS button, which can be pressed for 3 seconds to alert parents when a kid feels in danger immediately.
- Train and develop good habits.
The smartwatch comes with a clock (of course), alarms, and reminders. The conventional watch has always taught us to value time and manage our daily responsibilities. This is a good moment to teach your children the discipline of time to develop self-independence skills.
- The cost is much cheaper than a smartphone.
More affordable than a smartphone, not to mention smaller, lighter, and easier for you. How much does a parent need to spend? Entirely your choice. Think of its functions and durability.
- No need for a subscription
Nothing to spend on subscriptions; strap on and play!
Some offer safety zone features where a parent can register a specific area or location called a "safety zone." So when kids are outside of that particular area, parents will automatically be alerted.
- They are not easily lost or broken.
It straps securely on the wrist unless the kids take them off.
Disadvantages of GPS watch for kids
Yes, the GPS kids watch is more inexpensive than the smartphone, but in purchasing a new product you weren't planning on buying, you will have to compare each type on the market and ensure the price suits your need.
- The limited touchscreen area
Some manufacturers offer a very simple interface design to make use easier. These Kids' GPS watches have small touchscreens. It is just a teeny bit tricky to tap on.
Some low-cost GPS watches for kids had their safety zone function not performing correctly. So it is crucial to have more attention to detailed information regarding the devices' GPS function.
In recent studies, it has been pointed out that when a smartwatch uses SIM cards and the GSM connects to the smartwatch, there is a chance that any person can take over the device if that person has access to its owner's identity. In this case, the user might not realize their device has been taken over. Some watches didn't perform data encryption and failed to check who was logging information. Remember, some of the very affordable units may not have
Unfortunately, most of the affordable ones are not made to resist water. So please don't use them while swimming or during water-related activities.
- Only last for one or two years
That's the thing with technology. It keeps developing and renewing, technology will never be perfect, but we can decide to make good use of technology in current times.
In reality, parents can only track and locate a kid's position in real time but cannot see their real condition. Smart devices are helpful, but parents are still personally responsible for their kids, not their devices. Always read reviews, be aware of low-functioning products; also, and purchase from reputable suppliers.
