The 5 Best Wearables for Kids in 2021

Best Overall: Garmin Vivofit jr. 2

View On Amazon

Garmin is one of the biggest names in fitness tracking and wearables. Disney is one of the biggest names in kids entertainment. Put them together and you have a wearable company literally designed for kids. These wearables are perfect for kids' wrists. Of course, the trade off is that the screen is tiny, sporting only an 88 x 88 pixel resolution. It goes without saying that if your child isn't down with one of Disney's properties like Mickey, Minnie, Marvel, or Star Wars, you'll be out of luck. 

Assuming one of those properties works for you, this wearable is great for kids because it's waterproof, and it lasts for an entire year with no charging. The app that goes with it is available on iOS and Android, and it features some rewards that kids can earn by doing chores or completing up to one hour of activity.

Best Fitness: Fitbit Ace

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Fitbit is synonymous with fitness trackers, and the Fitbit Ace is designed for kids.  The wristband and screen are very slim which is great for small hands and wrists. The wearable tracks steps, active minutes, and sleep, so you can get them off the couch when they need it and back on the couch when they need it. The Fitbit app has 10 watch faces the kids can pick from, and the watch even allows kids to challenge each other and send messages to each other.

The watch is limited to a black and white display, and it comes in only two colors, both of which are on the masculine side. Also, the 5-day battery life isn't the best. But if you're looking for a slim watch that you can use to track your kids' activity, Fitbit is one of the best out there.

Best For Games: VTech Kidizoom DX2

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy

VTech kids is making a name for itself in the kids wearable space. The KidiZoom from VTech is a great choice for kids. It comes in five different colors, has a color screen and two built-in cameras. Kids can choose from up to 55 watch faces to find one that they love, plus the watch is full of games and fun activities. Kids can play Monster Detector, which gives them an AR view of monsters they can catch around them. Plus they can add funny effects to their photos with the Silly Me app.  That's just two of the many games they can play.

That's a lot of fun, but it comes at a cost. The company lists the battery life at three days, but testing suggests that it's closer to a single day under heavy use. When it comes to charging, the company specifies that it should only be charged using a USB port on a laptop as opposed to the third party adapter. Typically, that means the battery needs to charge slowly, which may not be great for an impatient child. VTech is also light on publishing specifications for various components like the cameras or the screen. That's usually not a good sign.

Best GPS Tracker: Jiobit Location Tracker

View On Amazon

The Jiobit Location Tracker is a "wearable" in the sense that it's something you carry with you at all times. Unlike the rest of the items in this list, this is a tracking tag that you can attach to your child's clothes or bag to keep track of them.  Think of it like a LoJack for your child. There is a certain relief to that. You don't have to worry about who your child is talking to, or maintaining a connection with a phone. This tag just goes everywhere and tracks them.

But it's very expensive for what it does. Other wearables on this list have similar functionality, and also have a watch face on them and activities. Plus, the connection requires a subscription service to Jiobit to actually track the tag. It's nice because that subscription includes all the necessary connectivity you need to be an excellent tracker; cellular, GPS, and other connectivity is included in that monthly price. This tracker will give you the peace of mind knowing where your child is without having to worry about setting up different permissions or controls.