Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 17:15     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
From a teacher's perspective: I 100% support you having a device to keep in contact with your kiddos. However, they have become increasingly distracting in school. Parents choose to contact their kids during school hours on their watch (we've had parents CALL their kids during school). I'm not saying that is what you will do, but just something to think about. We've had pushback from parents who said they would rather pick up their kids call then the front office.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 16:09     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:My kid has an Apple Watch since 2nd grade as he was biking to school on his own about a mile away. If the kid is more independent, going to the park on his own, it’s useful. Emergencies come up, bicycle chain getting off, minor cut, etc. and it’s very helpful to call. It’s also good as a time tracking device to learn how to manage time. When he visits a friend I can just text him directly if he doesn’t leave by the time we agreed, instead of pestering the parent to send him home. This happens a lot. Tracking is convenient, if he’s late from school, but I don’t use it much.


Get away from the helicopter. These are things kids are perfectly capable of doing without being in contact with you. And if there is an emergency at a playground, they can have an adult call you. (They should know your number by 2nd grade.)
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 16:05     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:Airtag on the backpack would be way cheaper and more in line with school rules.


+1

Our CES school sent out repeated emails about kids using watches when they weren’t supposed to. Don’t be that parent and send them in with one.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 15:34     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
My 3rd grader has an Apple Watch now, has for a couple of years. We have it set to school mode during the day so it’s just a dumb watch, and it comes out of school mode when she leaves so we can communicate/make sure she gets to where she needs to be/let her know if plans are changing. We use the parental controls to control who she can communicate with (her grandparents and parents only), and we filter messages from unknown senders. It works well for us with this kid.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 15:08     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gizmos or tiktalk watches are very appropriate at this age and I strongly recommend- gives you a piece of mind to be able to track/ connect if/when necessary. I agree with others that apple watches may be too early for 4th grade... maybe 6th?


My kids friends had Gizmo while mine had the cheapest Apple. Gizmos are very bulky, kids didn’t want to wear them much. For a younger/small kid the Apple fits better and is less intrusive, I’d recommend trying both first.



We went through two Gizmos that were so glitchy and unreliable that we returned them. We winded up getting an Apple watch, mainly because my kid’s bus frequently didn’t show up (this was immediately after Covid) and we had to figure out if we needed to get her or wait.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 11:35     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:apple watches are terrible as a first watch / phone - no ability for parents to monitor texts etc. I'd get a bark watch or wait for the pinwheel watch, which should be out soon


I just check my kids texts at night. No biggie.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 10:30     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:My kid has an Apple Watch since 2nd grade as he was biking to school on his own about a mile away. If the kid is more independent, going to the park on his own, it’s useful. Emergencies come up, bicycle chain getting off, minor cut, etc. and it’s very helpful to call. It’s also good as a time tracking device to learn how to manage time. When he visits a friend I can just text him directly if he doesn’t leave by the time we agreed, instead of pestering the parent to send him home. This happens a lot. Tracking is convenient, if he’s late from school, but I don’t use it much.


I got one for mine in 2nd grade. She is mature and wants to go to the playground after school alone (it's really close, no streets to cross). It was really a purchase for US rather than her. Unfortunately though, the watch doesn't act like an AirTag does. Some days it won't find her for hours. But it's nice to know she can always call me or I can call her.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 10:23     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:Gizmos or tiktalk watches are very appropriate at this age and I strongly recommend- gives you a piece of mind to be able to track/ connect if/when necessary. I agree with others that apple watches may be too early for 4th grade... maybe 6th?


My kids friends had Gizmo while mine had the cheapest Apple. Gizmos are very bulky, kids didn’t want to wear them much. For a younger/small kid the Apple fits better and is less intrusive, I’d recommend trying both first.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 10:18     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
My kid has an Apple Watch since 2nd grade as he was biking to school on his own about a mile away. If the kid is more independent, going to the park on his own, it’s useful. Emergencies come up, bicycle chain getting off, minor cut, etc. and it’s very helpful to call. It’s also good as a time tracking device to learn how to manage time. When he visits a friend I can just text him directly if he doesn’t leave by the time we agreed, instead of pestering the parent to send him home. This happens a lot. Tracking is convenient, if he’s late from school, but I don’t use it much.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 09:14     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Check with your kid’s school/teacher before you buy. One of my kid’s teacher explicitly asked kids not to wear them…
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 08:35     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Gizmos or tiktalk watches are very appropriate at this age and I strongly recommend- gives you a piece of mind to be able to track/ connect if/when necessary. I agree with others that apple watches may be too early for 4th grade... maybe 6th?
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 08:09     Subject: Apple Watch for 4th grader going to CES?
Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t an AirTag require actively tracking the kid? Who has time for that? I’d prefer her to have the ability to text me if something is up. I’ll look into the pinwheel phone…


You don’t need to actively track the kid unless you want to. The OP said they wanted it only to track the kid’s bus commute. It’s not time consuming to check where your kid is at 345 pm and make sure they got home.