By Tracey Dowdy
If your child isn’t ready for a smartphone but you’d still like to track their activity or stay in contact with them, a smartwatch is a great alternative. Since it’s literally strapped to their body, they’re less likely to lose it, and because they’re designed for kids, the designs are more robust to withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
These are some of your best options:
The Joy Octopus V2 ($59.99) teaches kids time management skills through a customizable scheduler that prompts them to brush their teeth, catch the bus, get ready for bed or anything they need to be reminded of. It’s a great option for very young children or those who can’t read yet, the Joy Octopus V2 uses icons so the child can clearly understand what’s being asked. It doesn’t emit sounds so it’s unobtrusive, doesn’t require a SIM card or phone plan, and doesn’t have a GPS tracker. The Joy Octopus V2 is available now for $80.
The Timex Family Connect offers secure two way calling within private groups you create through contacts set up in an app on your smartphone. It has real-time location sharing, in-app voice and instant messaging, and it’s SafeZone feature allows you to set up virtual fences around physical locations. Anytime the child leaves or enters a SafeZone, you’ll get an alert. The Family Connect’s one limitation is that it is exclusive to TMobile, so if you have a different provider, you’ll need to look for another device. TMobile customers can get the Timex Family Connect for $99 when you add a qualifying line.
The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX3 features an augmented reality game, a pedometer, active play challenges, and two cameras that allow your child to capture everything from action video to selfies they can later upload them to a computer. Available for $59.99
The Garmin Vívofit Jr. is durable, features a full year of battery life year with constant wearing, and connects to your mobile app so you can track chores and manage behavior. It tracks steps, sleep, and 60 minutes of daily recommended activity is waterproof and swim-proof, and even offers fun, educational adventures for your child that allows them to earn coins to redeem for agreed-upon rewards managed by you. The Garmin Vívofit Jr. is available for $69.99.
Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.
This handy little device is more than just a writing implement. It will help keep you topped on for those times when you are about to run out of power but need to make a call or send an email. The Smartphone Power Boost Pen is a portable backup power source that charges your iPhone, Blackberry or Android smartphone. All you need to do is separate the two halves and connect the universal charging cable, with its built-in Lightning, 30-Pin and Micro USB adapters. It provides 400 mAH, which is enough to charge a completely dead iPhone up to 33 percent battery life. That’s enough to keep you going until you can plug into a regular power source.
This cool tech gadget is a flashlight, Bluetooth speaker, call answer microphone, FM radio, SD card reader and AUX-in jack all wrapped up into one lightweight device. It is perfect for nearly any activity such as camping, traveling or relaxing on the beach. The Rocket Torch is water resistant and weighs less than a pound. A great travel companion wherever you go.
The Satechi Smart Travel Router / Travel Adapter with USB Port adapts to fit into four of the most common plug configurations used around the world and also features four different modes for your wireless networking needs. You can charge two devices at the same time using either an AC power port or a USB power port. This compact adapter is convenient for charging smartphones, laptops, music players, cameras, e-readers, handheld game consoles, tablets, and other devices. It can also be used as a router.
How much time do you spend each day looking for keys or other important things such as your wallet or purse? Chipolo is a simple to use, Bluetooth-based item finder for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 8.1 Devices. It also has a pre-drilled hole so that you can attach it to your key ring and is small enough to fit inside a wallet. After the initial set-up, the idea is that you are connected 24/7. If the item that the Chipolo is attached to goes out of range from your phone and disconnects, the app will pinpoint the last location on a map. It will also send you a push notification letting you know that your item may be lost. You can also attach the Chipolo to a collar to keep track of pets.
Whether you are a fan of the Pebble, Sony, LG, Motorola or Apple Watch, a smart watch is a great addition to your mobile lifestyle. A smart watch can keep you hands free and is highly customizable. After trying two different models, I cannot imagine being without mine. I can check email notifications and respond with a few simple swipes, all without pulling my phone out of my purse. I also use my smart watch to track health goals, steps, calories burned and sleep patterns. Smart watches are the leaders in wearable technology and will continue to improve and dominate the market.
Chantal is located in Ottawa, Ontario. She is passionate about everything related to the World of Work: Leadership, HR, Social Media and Technology. You can read more from Chantal at her