Anonymous
05/04/2026 21:13
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Got one for my 9 year old 3rd grader. He can free range on his bike through our neighborhood to friend’s houses. He can also go to and from school. I like being able to see where he is. We took off most of the apps and if he wants to put in a number he has to give it to me for me to save. I also turned off Siri and all notifications so it never buzzes. I don’t know why people are saying it’s hard to lock down since he can add apps without my permission.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 20:29
Subject: Age for apple watch?
My 9 year old third grader bikes to and from school (a mile) and occasionally bikes to neighborhood parks. So he’s now getting one to ease my worries.. however so far he had his chain slip a few times he found a way to handle it himself. He’s a pretty responsible kid we’ll see if it’s too distracting though.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:57
Subject: Age for apple watch?
+1Anonymous wrote:I despise them, as I've seen lots of examples of kids constantly distracted by incoming texts. This is outside of school, but I've heard from my kids that the watches are not really locked down.
We did phones in 7th for my older two, which were easy to put in a drawer, not attached to their bodies, and easy to lock down. For my youngest who will want more freedom earlier, I'm considering a flip phone in 5th grade. Then he could text me when going to friends' houses or other places
My repeated experience is that kids are always preoccupied with their Apple watch. Super duper distracting and it makes it hard for them to focus on anything, including homework and healthy social interactions.
-- Mom of 7th grader
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:47
Subject: Age for apple watch?
I despise them, as I've seen lots of examples of kids constantly distracted by incoming texts. This is outside of school, but I've heard from my kids that the watches are not really locked down.
We did phones in 7th for my older two, which were easy to put in a drawer, not attached to their bodies, and easy to lock down. For my youngest who will want more freedom earlier, I'm considering a flip phone in 5th grade. Then he could text me when going to friends' houses or other places
We did phones in 7th for my older two, which were easy to put in a drawer, not attached to their bodies, and easy to lock down. For my youngest who will want more freedom earlier, I'm considering a flip phone in 5th grade. Then he could text me when going to friends' houses or other places
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:44
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Get a gizmo watch if you must. Apple watches are very hard to lock down.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:20
Subject: Age for apple watch?
When you need to contact them for logistics or middle school. Not in elementary for purely social reasons. FWIW, a flip phone also works well for logistics.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:18
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Middle school.
My kid got her phone for MS but had she wanted a watch that’s when she would have gotten it.
My kid got her phone for MS but had she wanted a watch that’s when she would have gotten it.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:17
Subject: Age for apple watch?
We got one for DS in 5th grade so he could roam the neighborhood with friends and we could contact him if we needed him home or if he got injured and needed us. He actually doesn’t really use it during the school year.
We use us mobile for a plan for it. $5/month
We use us mobile for a plan for it. $5/month
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:09
Subject: Age for apple watch?
I think there are less expensive options than an Apple Watch for occasional calls home by an 8 year old.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:07
Subject: Age for apple watch?
what's the best way to lock them down so they become limited to only receive and call a few numbers and no internet? My mother can't figure out her new series 11 and gave it to me, and I want my kid to be able to reach me, but I want it very basic
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:04
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Lots of kids get one in third or fourth grade if they play sports that require a drop off. It is nice for a kid to easily contact a parent, and to be able to track them if they get rides with other parents.
I think the watch is good because you CAN text, but it’s actually a pain to do so.
I think the watch is good because you CAN text, but it’s actually a pain to do so.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:03
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Nope. Anecdotally, the earliest any of my kid's friends had smart watches was 4th-5th grade, and they were all kids with divorced parents. (Maybe a greater need to coordinate rides, etc.?)
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:02
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Whatever age you are OK with a phone, add a couple years.
Anonymous
05/04/2026 17:00
Subject: Age for apple watch?
Anonymous wrote:My DD is in third grade and has been asking for an Apple watch. That feels very young to me but looking for a gut check.
hell no
Anonymous
05/04/2026 16:12
Subject: Age for apple watch?
My DD is in third grade and has been asking for an Apple watch. That feels very young to me but looking for a gut check.