10 Best Kids Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Bounce is a well-rounded kids smartwatch designed to keep children active and connected while offering parents peace of mind. It stands out with its durable, swim-friendly build, making it suitable for everyday wear and light water exposure. The 1.3-inch bright color touchscreen is easy for kids to navigate, and the square shape offers a familiar look similar to many adult smartwatches. Garmin typically uses comfortable, kid-friendly bands that can withstand rough use.

One of the watch's greatest strengths is its focus on communication and safety: it supports two-way text and voice messaging through the Garmin Jr. app, and parents can track their child's location in real-time. Features like geofencing notifications and an Assistance button add extra security, allowing children to quickly alert family members if needed. These connected features require an active subscription and LTE connection, which means additional ongoing costs and reliance on network coverage.

Battery life offers up to two days on a full charge, which is decent but can drain faster with heavy use of LTE and messaging functions. The watch's lightweight design (about 37 grams) ensures comfort for kids, and its 8GB storage is more than enough for typical smartwatch use. The Garmin Bounce covers the essentials well and adds valuable safety features, making it suitable for parents who want a reliable, durable watch that encourages communication and activity while keeping track of their child’s location. The watch’s user-friendly Garmin OS and touchscreen make it accessible for kids, though younger children might need some initial help getting used to the functions.

The Fitbit Ace LTE is a solid choice for a kids’ smartwatch, especially for parents wanting a reliable way to stay connected with their children. It offers built-in 4G LTE and GPS, so you can easily locate your child and communicate through calls and messages without needing a separate phone. The watch is durable with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a protective bumper, and water resistance up to 50 meters, making it tough enough to handle everyday play and splashes. Its 1.6-inch touchscreen is clear and responsive, designed with kids in mind, while the strap is comfortable for small wrists, though only one size is included, which might not fit all kids perfectly. Battery life is good, lasting over 16 hours and charging quickly, so it can keep up with active days. The built-in activity games encourage movement, helping kids stay active in a fun way. School Time mode helps limit distractions during class while still allowing important contact.

Additional features like Tap to Pay add modern convenience, though it requires setup with a supported kids' debit card. On the downside, messaging is limited to approved contacts aged 13 and up, which might restrict social use, and the watch requires a data plan (Ace Pass) for full LTE functionality, adding ongoing costs. This watch effectively blends safety, fitness, and connectivity for kids, but parents should consider the extra data plan expense and ensure the strap fits their child comfortably.

The Garmin Bounce is a kids' smartwatch designed to keep children active and parents connected. It features two-way text and voice messaging capabilities that allow parents and kids to stay in touch easily through the Garmin Jr. app, facilitating quick communication. The built-in GPS and real-time location tracking add an extra layer of safety by enabling parents to see their child's location and receive alerts when they enter or leave designated areas, which requires an active subscription and LTE connectivity.

The watch includes a bright 1.3-inch color touchscreen that is easy for kids to use and navigate. Its durable and swim-friendly design ensures it withstands everyday play and water activities, while its lightweight build (just over 37 grams) keeps it comfortable for children to wear. The battery typically lasts about two days between charges, though frequent use of connected features and network conditions will influence actual battery life, so regular charging is recommended.

Additional features include an Assistance button for emergencies and 8 GB of memory for storing data. The watch operates on Garmin OS, which is straightforward but offers fewer apps compared to more general smartwatches. The requirement for a subscription and LTE service to access messaging and location tracking adds ongoing costs. For active kids who need a reliable way for parents to check in, this watch is a strong option, though those seeking fully standalone devices or lower-cost alternatives without recurring fees might consider other products.