Apple Watch Family Setup for Kids: A Parent’s Honest Review
With the launch of watchOS 7, Apple introduced Family Setup - transforming the Apple Watch into a GPS-based kid tracker. As a parent of an active 11-year-old, I tested this feature extensively to determine if it’s worth the $329+ investment. Here’s what I discovered.
Key Features and Initial Impressions
The Apple Watch SE with cellular (required for Family Setup) offers:
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Calling/texting capabilities
- Emergency SOS alerts
- Activity monitoring
- Schooltime mode for focus
At first glance, it seemed ideal for parents hesitant to give their child a smartphone. The watch provides communication and safety features without exposing kids to addictive apps or unrestricted internet access.
The Reality of Daily Use
Setup Process
Configuring Family Setup was straightforward through Apple’s step-by-step interface. The system guides you through:
- Pairing the watch
- Enabling cellular service (~$10/month)
- Setting up parental controls
- Activating Schooltime and Activity features
Unexpected Challenges
However, practical usage revealed several pain points:
- Device Responsibility: My previously phone-responsible tween treated the watch carelessly, frequently misplacing it
- Limited Appeal: Without popular apps like Roblox or TikTok, engagement was low
- Interface Confusion: The watch’s UI wasn’t intuitive for my tech-savvy child
- Comfort Issues: The watch bands proved uncomfortable during extended wear
Location Tracking: The Core Value
The watch excelled as a GPS tracker with these benefits:
- Reliable battery life (unlike my daughter’s perpetually low-charge iPhone)
- Seamless integration with Apple’s Find My network
- Geofencing capabilities for location alerts
However, setting up geofences was cumbersome compared to dedicated apps like Life360. The feature also notifies the child each time a recurring alert is modified - an unnecessary complication for younger kids.
Activity and Schooltime Features
While Apple promotes health tracking for kids, my tween showed little interest in activity metrics. The Schooltime mode (remote Do Not Disturb) showed potential but was irrelevant during pandemic remote learning.
Long-Term Considerations
Important factors to weigh:
- Cost: At \(329+ for the watch plus \)10/month cellular, it’s comparable to a basic smartphone
- Transition: The system doesn’t adapt as children mature into teenagers
- Management: Features are scattered across three different iPhone apps
Final Verdict
The Apple Watch with Family Setup works best for:
- Families committed to delaying smartphone access
- Parents wanting basic communication without apps
- Situations where phone use is highly restricted
For others, it may be an expensive stopgap before smartphone ownership. With robust parental controls now available on both iOS and Android, a smartphone with proper supervision might be the more practical long-term solution.
Apple provided a loaner device for this review. My daughter participated with permission but requested anonymity.
