Just seeing people have had issues with Gizmo. Maybe we got lucky but we have not had issues at all and it's been a life saver for 2-3 years with our kids' late sports practices.

For us it hasn't been about the price but preferred more of a "dumb watch" to start. My oldest is distractible and waiting as long as we can to open the Pandora's box of constant texts or apps. We've had a gizmo for 3 years and it's definitely served its purpose. We may end up going the Apple Watch route soon, though .. and passing the Gizmo down to our 9 year old. I'd like to delay the iPhone for as long as humanely possible!

My kid has been using a gizmo watch for 2 years and it’s been great, no complaints. He will get an Apple Watch eventually but I think we’ll get at least another year out of the gizmo. They’ve added some texting and contact features so it’s not that different from an Apple Watch, except no internet which I appreciate. The biggest downfall is you can’t swim with the gizmo.

Get any other “simpler” watch and it will last one year at most (not necessarily break but not work WELL) and you’ll be back where you started. Gizmo, Gabb, etc. that’s the lived experience of all my DDs friends who got those around 9. Yeah some of us thought the Apple watch people were crazy (they were mostly kids with older siblings) but they were right. I handed down my Apple watch to her and got myself a new one

What’s the best thing to get that serves its purpose of being able to contact your parents, but is not fun to fiddle with?

My 7yo is a bookworm - when she has a few spare moments her head is in a book. I don’t want her to spend that time fiddling with a watch. I notice most upper ES kids doing watch/phone stuff a lot

The Gizmo watches (and I think Gabbs are the same thing, just on AT&T) have significant issues with charging. We had three and two stopped charging after just a few months. If you read the reviews, it's a common issue. Some watches are fine, so you might get lucky, but I just gave up after the second stopped working.

We did an Apple watch at age 10 and it's been great. DD can't use it at school, which I support, but if I really need to reach her at school I can call the school or email her teacher. The other nice thing about the Apple Watch is that I feel like it'll allow me to delay getting DD a smart phone a bit longer; I'm hoping we can get to 7th or 8th grade before making the switch, since she can call and text on the watch, plus I can easily find her location.

SEE THIS problem with Apple Watch: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253582380?sortBy=best

Something to keep in mind, on apple watch, kids can search GIF images when texting. And Apple has no fix for it: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254975863?=undefined&followedChain=true&previousThread=255057142021&sortBy=best

We were using an apple watch until I discovered my 9 year old was doing this, thanks to something she learned at the playground at school.

The only part that is more expensive is the initial investment in the watch. The monthly plan is the same. Apple watch is the way to go and could get the 11 year old through middle school without needing a phone.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what you’re looking for but our kids aren’t allowed to have smart watches at school. At any age.

.

Well, that sucks! Our school has a rule that it can only be used like a regular watch during class, and it seems to work, since it’s 100% enforced.