Yes, your child can simply have an Iwatch with its own cell-like number and can receive texts to the watch. You do not need to purchase your child an iPhone. You can set this up through your iPhone account. The Apple store geniuses are great.

If you do this, do they receive text messages at their Apple ID? Kid desperately wants a phone number to share with kids at camp. Already messages a little on our desktop under an Apple ID email. I thought the watch might be “cooler” but wth do I know. Short of getting her a phone (not gonna happen) is there any way for her to join the group chat with a phone number in a semi-private way (ie not using my phone number).