Best Watches For Kids (2023)

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best watch for kids is, I’d recommend the VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch.

Learning to tell time is an important skill, even in today’s digital age when time is accessible on our smartphone, tablet, and computer screens. Make learning this skill easier by choosing from the best kids watches on the market. Featuring both analog and digital styles, this collection of watches has something for every child at every age. 

Here are the kids’ watches I will be reviewing:

• VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch
• Timex Time Machines Watch
• iTouch Playzoom Smart Watch
• L.O.L Surprise Touchscreen Smart Watch
• Marvel Touchscreen Watch
• AZLAND Waterproof Sport Watch
• AXSPT Kid LED Sport Watch
• Dreamingbox Sports Digital Watch
• PROGRACE Kids Smart Watch With Camera
• Batman Kids’ Analog Watch
• Lsflair Smart Watch
• Minnie Mouse Musical Watch
• CakCity LED Sports Watch
• KIDPER Digital Watch
• Sun-Team Kids Watches
  

Benefits of a Watch for Your Child

A watch isn’t just a fashionable accessory for your youngster. It also delivers several key benefits. Understanding these benefits can help guide you to the right watch for your child.

Telling Time

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of wearing a watch is teaching your child to tell time. Digital clocks on smartphones and appliances seem to outnumber more traditional analog styles these days, which means your child needs to learn how to tell time two ways: digital and analog. Investing in a kids watch offers an opportunity to learn about telling time, especially when that daily time telling is paired with some at-home lessons. This concept is typically introduced in elementary school, so you can use the watch to introduce this concept ahead of schedule or to reinforce school-based lessons at home.

Time Management

Once your child gets the basics of time telling down, they can use the watch to begin to learn the concept of time and develop time management skills. Initially, your child might not have much of an understanding of what a half-hour is compared to an hour. Ten minutes might sound likely plenty of time to a young child––until they learn that it isn’t. Having a watch introduces these basic concepts because they can follow how time progresses on their watch.

Even more, a watch helps your child learn how to manage this time. By elementary school, your child can start to identify how to schedule and best use their time. They can process the concept of having a certain amount of time to complete various tasks, such as completing homework and enjoying outdoor play time. They can then begin to determine how to appropriately manage that time to tackle each task. Having a watch on the wrist makes time management easier.

Technology Skills

Since many of today’s watches are smartwatches, these watches can also help develop your child’s technology skills. Your kid can learn to work with a touchscreen interface, which is something that they will likely use in the classroom or at home in years to come. These watches can introduce them to digital calendar applications and teach them how to capture photos with built-in cameras. Some smartwatches allow users to upload photos and videos onto their computer, giving kids an opportunity to develop that skill as well. All of these skills extend beyond just smartwatch use, allowing you to create a tech savvy kid.

Evaluating Kids Watch Options

When you’re shopping for a kids watch, you’ll be choosing from three different types: analog, digital, or smartwatch. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for every kid, so learn about the different styles to choose the appropriate watch for your child’s needs.

Analog 

An analog watch is the most traditional and basic style, as well as the one that you can use to teach kids how to tell time in the traditional way. Many of these kids watches are built with features that encourage time telling, including easy-to-read numbers and labeled watch hands. Assess what features your child needs depending on their current time-telling abilities because some are developed for beginners and some for kids who know how to tell time.

Digital

Digital styles offer a new time-telling opportunity and are a good choice for kids who already know how to read an analog watch. Many of these styles include other time-related features as well, including timers, alarms, and stopwatches, which offer additional opportunities to understand time concepts. Plus, digital styles are designed for sporty, active kids, with some offering convenient waterproof designs.

Smart

Smartwatches offer a variety of watch faces, including both analog and digital. Kids can toggle between styles, giving them the opportunity to learn beyond basic time telling. These watches include an array of other features, including time-management tools like calendars and alarms. They’re packed with entertainment options too, including cameras and games. These watches aren’t just for time telling––they’re truly an entertainment tool for your youngster.

How to Choose the Best Kids Watch

With so many watch styles available, choosing the right kids watch requires some serious contemplation. Shop with your child’s age and skill level in mind. Consider these key features when selecting a watch for your child.

Purpose 

Decide whether you want your child to learn to tell time on an analog or digital style. Alternatively, you can invest in a smartwatch, which offers both options along with other built-in features.

Durability

Consider how your child will use the watch to determine how durable it needs to be. If your child is active and athletic, for example, a durable watch is a must. On the other hand, if your child plans to simply wear the watch as a fashion statement, you don’t necessarily need a style that’s designed for durability. Signs of a durable watch include a silicone band, stainless steel hardware, and a waterproof or water-resistant design.

Age

Your child’s age plays a factor in choosing the right watch. While all watches are adjustable and can fit different wrist sizes, be sure to check age guidelines to ensure you find one that is an appropriate fit. Elementary-aged children and older will be more adept at using a smartwatch or than toddlers and preschoolers, who may benefit from simpler styles.

My Top Kids Watch Reviews

We’ve looked at all different types of kids watches, and selected our favorite ones. Then, we put together detailed reviews.

VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch

The VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch is a touchscreen smart watch with 256MB memory. It’s packed with features that kids will love, offering many features beyond just telling time. But, let’s start there. This watch includes 55 digital and analog watch faces, allowing your child to mix up the watch design every day. Other time-telling features include a stopwatch and alarm, which can help instill some responsibility in your youngster. Use the alarm feature to alert your child that it’s time for dinner, time to turn off the TV, time to go to bed, or time to wake up.

This VTech Smart Watch can also encourage your youngster to stay active, thanks to a pedometer and built-in activity challenges that will keep their feet moving. The watch also includes dual cameras, with one at the top of the watch and one on the side. As a result, your kid can snap pictures of family, friends, and their favorite things, as well as shoot selfies. This camera can even take short videos for added fun. The camera includes photo and video effects, allowing kids to capture silly selfies using kid-friendly filters.

Kids also have the option to play five games, including Monster Catcher and Noodle Booster, with the option to download more. While kids might love having games strapped to their wrist all day, parents might be less than enthused by this constant access to potentially distracting games. As a result, don’t expect to send your kids to school in this smartwatch. 

The VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch is rechargeable and comes with a micro-USB cable. Connect this cable to any USB port to charge it or to your computer’s USB port to download photos and videos.

Timex Time Machines Watch

This Timex Time Machines Watch is the perfect starter watch for kids ready to learn to tell time, which is why it gets our vote for Best Analog Watch. This watch features an easy-to-read white dial with large Arabic numerals. The clock face includes all 12 hours, as well as numbers at the 5-minute marks. On some styles, the hour and minute hands are labeled as well, a feature that serves as a useful guide for kids who are still learning how to tell time.

This watch has garnered quite a few awards, including the Creative Child Awards Product of the Year Award and Tillywig Brainchild Award––for good reason. The Time Machines Watch comes in an array of colors. Themed designs feature sea animals, sharks, sports like soccer and basketball, camouflage, and dinosaurs. Some watch dials are accented by rotating characters that move with the watch hands.

The wristband features an elastic strap and comes in a variety of colors and patterns, making it simple to find one your kid will love. While the idea behind the buckle-free wristband is that kids can put it on themselves, some kids may have trouble tightening it effectively using the metal slide. This watch fits up to a 6-inch wrist circumference. Plus, the strap can be removed and popped in the washing machine if your little one is tough on it––like most kids are.

iTouch Playzoom Kids Smart Watch

The iTouch Playzoom Kids Smart Watch is another multifunctional watch that tells time and so much more. First, consider its time-telling features to decide if it’s the right fit for your child. This watch features both analog and digital clock faces, allowing users to customize their look and change it frequently. A built-in alarm and stopwatch further allow kids to explore concepts of time. The calendar feature can teach your child to keep track of their schedule, from extracurricular activities to homework assignments. These learning-inspired tools are some of the top features of the iTouch smart watch.

This watch offers some fun for kids as well, which can help build their technology skills. It includes a built-in camera, which allows them to capture memorable moments and add fun effects to their photos. The watch also has an audio recorder, allowing kids to record sounds and enhance them with easy-to-add sound animations. 

Games can promote an active lifestyle, with some games designed to keep kids moving. Learning-inspired games include Math Wizard, which presents kids with basic equations to complete. Other games can be less engaging, however, so if you have a child who has a tendency to zone out on a screen, those games could be problematic. 

The iTouch Playzoom Kids Smart Watch is available in more than a dozen designs for boys and girls, making it easy to find one that your youngster will love. Choose from designs featuring sports, unicorns, cats, outer space, and more. Kids can further customize their watch by choosing from a variety of wallpapers so that it’s well suited to their preferences.

L.O.L. Surprise Touch Screen Smart Watch

Girls who love L.O.L. dolls can enjoy these characters all day long with the L.O.L. Surprise Touch Screen Smart Watch. This smart watch includes three wallpaper designs, along with 10 clock faces featuring her L.O.L doll favorites. The silicone wrist strap is designed for your child’s comfort. Plus, it’s adorned with the L.O.L. logo and a playful pink-and-blue striped pattern. So, this watch isn’t just a useful timepiece; it can also be a fashion statement for your L.O.L.-loving girl.

Like other smart watches, this one is packed with kid-friendly features that she will love. A built-in selfie cam lets her snap pics or capture videos of herself all day long. A voice recorder allows her to leave messages and reminders on the watch. She can do simple math and number work using the built-in calculator. Since this watch features a touchscreen display, it’s easy for kids––even preschoolers––to navigate.

The L.O.L. Surprise Touch Screen Smart Watch includes three games, which is less than comparable smart watches––and this could be a pro or a con, depending on how important games are to you and your child. It also includes a pedometer, which tracks steps and offers some motivation to keep your child active. The stopwatch can time her as she exercises, too. While the smart watch reportedly is water resistant up to 100 feet, don’t risk it by submerging the watch in water. To be safe, consider it splash proof and not capable of withstanding more water than that.

Marvel Touch Screen Watch

If you’re shopping for a Spiderman fan, look no further than this Marvel Touch Screen Watch, which boasts an unmistakable Spiderman theme. It includes 10 changeable clock faces, allowing your youngster to choose his favorite Spiderman theme every day. Some watch faces are digital, and others are analog, which encourages your child to learn how to tell time two different ways.

This watch has a camera at the top of the watch face, which makes shooting selfies oh-so simple. However, with just one camera lens, your child won’t be able to easily take pictures of other people, places, or things. So if he’s a budding photographer, another watch with dual cameras might be a better choice. But, for a kid who just wants to snap selfies, this is the smartwatch for you.

This Spiderman watch boasts other features as well. In addition to telling time, this watch includes an alarm, stopwatch, and calculator. Kids can track their steps on the pedometer and try to keep up with mom and dad with some fun exercise challenges. It also includes three games, which don’t require WiFi, to play. 

The silicone wristband is designed for your child’s comfort. It features a classic tang buckle design, which makes it adjustable, allowing you to customize the fit for your growing youngster. The wristband features a Spiderman-themed design, which will make this watch a hit for the superhero-loving kid in your life.

AZLAND Waterproof LED Watch

The AZLAND Waterproof LED Watch features a mature look in a size that fits kids ages 4 to 12. Your child will love having a watch that might look like Mom’s or Dad’s favorite style. This watch is well designed and maximizes your kid’s comfort thanks to its soft, rubber band. This athletic style watch is ideal for the active kid who loves to play outdoors. It’s water resistant, which means your child can wear it in a variety of environments, including during light water play like splashing in water.

This LED watch features an easy-to-read digital display. So, that may not make it the best option if you’re looking to teach your child how to tell time on an analog watch. However, the watch offers plenty of data. It tells the time in hours, minutes, and seconds and includes the month, date, and day of the week. Choose whether you’d like to display time in 12-hour or 24-hour increments. It chimes on the hour so that your child can always keep track of time.

One of the most appealing features of this watch is its indigo nightlight, which your child will love as they see the watch light up. Thanks to this LED light, the watch face is always easy to see, even in the dark. When choosing your watch, consider what color your child will prefer. It’s available in several colors, including blue, green, red, and pink, making it easy to find one in your kid’s favorite shade.

AXSPT Waterproof Kid Watch

If you’re looking for a durable digital watch for your child, consider the AXSPT Waterproof Kid Watch. This sporty style is designed for the active child, and it holds up well under a variety of conditions. It’s constructed with a comfortable silicone band and stainless steel back and buckle. These materials are especially durable, which means this kid watch should hold up well.

The digital face displays plenty of important information. You can display the time in 12- or 24-hour intervals. It also shows the date of the month and day of the week. Your child can select the mode button to turn on the stopwatch, which counts by the 1/100th of a second and has a split count function. The watch chimes at the top of every hour as well and includes an alarm, although learning to set it will probably require some parental involvement.

This watch is well designed for daily use. It’s waterproof, which means your child can wash their hands, shower, and even swim in it. Plus, it’s available in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose one that you know your child will love. Select from colors like orange, green, blue, pink, purple, and yellow. You can also find black watches that are accented by different colors like blue, gray, red, and yellow. Finally, backlighting illuminates the watch with the press of a button––a button that your child will probably want to push time and again. This feature is especially handy when your youngster is checking the time or setting the alarm in the dark.

Dreamingbox Sports Digital Watch for Kids

Durable, dependable, and packed with kid-friendly functions, the Dreamingbox Sports Digital Watch for Kids is a good watch for kids on the go. It’s built to last, thanks to its soft rubber strap and stainless steel buckle. The wristband will fit comfortably on your child’s wrist and won’t be cumbersome when they’re running and playing. As a result, this digital watch is a good option for active kids and our choice for Best Digital Watch in this category.

The watch face includes plenty of information––perhaps even more than your child needs. Because it features so much information, the time, the most essential part of the display, is smaller than other digital styles, which might be a deterrent for younger kids. Older children, however, might like the ample information displayed on the watch face. It includes the time in hours, minutes, and seconds, along with the day of the week, and an alarm indicator that shows whether it’s set or not. 

Like the busy watch face, this watch also includes a number of buttons along its edges. Odds are your kids will like this feature, as they can toggle between different modes, set the alarm, or use the stopwatch. However, it will take your child some time to get familiar with the buttons. One button even allows your child to illuminate the watch face. This back lighting comes in handy at night, allowing your child to see the time even when lights are out.

The Dreamingbox Sports Digital Watch is waterproof, allowing your child to swim, bath, and wash hands with it on. A truly waterproof kids watch is hard to find, which makes this the watch’s most appealing feature. It adds a layer of durability and protection that every kids watch needs, but many lack.

PROGRACE Kids Smartwatch With Camera

The PROGRACE Kids Smartwatch With Camera, like many smartwatches in this category, boast a variety of features to keep kids entertained. This watch has even more features than other styles, though, which makes it a good choice if you’re truly seeking an entertainment device for your kids, not just a basic watch. Let’s look at those unique features first.

This kids smartwatch offers Bluetooth connectivity, which means your child can listen to the built-in audio player and AM/FM radio by connecting it to wireless headphones. It also has a jack for headphones so that you can connect them directly to the watch for music playback. It also features a larger-than-average display of 1.5 inches. This display is easier for kids to see and navigate, but the large watch face might feel cumbersome on little wrists. Another standout feature is the built-in flashlight, which your child will enjoy playing with at night.

The wristband, available in pink and blue, is constructed of soft silicone, which promises comfort for your kid’s wrist. The watch includes one camera that can rotate 90 degrees for snapping selfies or taking pictures of family and friends. You can customize the watch display so that it shows 12-hour or 24-hour time, depending on your preference.

This smartwatch, like others, comes with four built-in games, which can serve as a nice distraction for your kids. However, they aren’t educational like other watches, so that might be a drawback if your child plays them too much. Overall, this watch is built with plenty of kid-friendly features accessible via an easy-to-navigate interface.

Batman Kids Analog Watch

Calling all superheroes! This Batman Kids Analog Watch is the perfect gift for a Batman fan. Plus, it’s designed for kids who are just beginning to learn to tell time, which makes it an educational gift for children in preschool or early elementary school. This watch features Batman’s classic color scheme or black and yellow. It includes an all-black band and a black face featuring the yellow Batman logo and easy-to-read yellow numbers. The hour and minute hands are labeled and are different colors, which can help kids learn to tell time. Quarter-hour marks are indicated on the watch face, offering more guidance for kids as they learn.

This watch is designed for your child’s comfort using nontoxic and nonhazardous materials. The adjustable watch band allows it to fit any wrist size and grow with your child. The buckle strap is designed for simplicity so that you child can latch and unlatch it on their own. It arrives in a customized Batman box, which doubles as a convenient storage spot for your kid’s watch when it’s not being worn.

While this watch is perfect for telling time, it doesn’t offer much else. It does not have an alarm like similar styles. It’s touted as water resistant, but it cannot withstand much water impact without damaging the face. However, it’s a good starter watch for the Batman fan who wants to learn to tell him.

Lsflair Children’s Smartwatch

If your child wants a watch just like Mom or Dad, this LSflair Children’s Smartwatch is a good choice. This watch offers a sleek and simple look that mimics adult smartwatch styles––along with similar features as well. Most notably, this watch offers two-way HD voice call, which connects the watch to up to 10 phone numbers. So, your child can call your smartphone using the watch. This feature delivers some safety benefits as well. You can program three SOS numbers, and with the push of a button, your child can contact you in emergency situations.

The watch boasts other features as well. The home screen displays the digital time, date, and day of the week. Your child can take photos using the camera and then upload them onto a computer using an SD card reader. It also allows your child to create voice recordings or compute equations on the built-in calculator. It plays music and offers seven puzzle games to keep your kid entertained. Parents (and teachers) will appreciate the do-not-disturb button that can be flipped on to avoid distractions.

The biggest drawback of this smartwatch is that the calling feature operates on a 2G network and isn’t compatible with many major wireless carriers. So, explore your accessibility to this 2G network before investing in the watch. However, even without its calling ability, which you may or may not use, this watch delivers plenty of features worth considering for your child.

Disney Minnie Mouse Boutique LCD Pop Musical Watch

Young Disney fans will delight when they see the Disney Minnie Mouse Boutique LCD Pop Musical Watch on their wrist. This watch is well designed for youngsters, making it a perfect gift for a toddler, preschooler, or elementary-aged kid. It would even work well as her very first watch.

The design of this watch is, of course, focused on all things Minnie. It features a hot pink polka-dot wristband and a coordinating pink watch face cover showcasing Minnie herself. This cover opens to reveal yet another Minnie design inside, along with a digital time display. This display is quite small, so it may be harder for younger kids to read. However, they’ll love the Minnie art that surrounds it.

While this watch might just look like your standard digital style, it does include a few kid-friendly features that she will love. Two buttons add some flair to the watch. Click the top button to play music and the side button to see the watch light up in different colors. Unfortunately, these buttons are positioned near the button to set the time, so chances are your youngster will hit the wrong button occasionally, which will require you to adjust the time.

As for the design, this watch features a wide band that fits comfortably on your child’s wrist. On younger kids, aged 3 to 4, the watch might look a bit big on the wrist, but your child won’t mind because the adjustable strap ensures that it fits. This watch isn’t rechargeable and uses nonstandard batteries that you cannot replace when they die. So, this watch may have a shorter life than comparable styles.

CakCity LED Sports Watch

This CakCity LED Sports Watch is a durable everyday option designed for kids ages 5 to 10. It’s available in 17 designs, including a variety of solid-colored options, as well as patterned camouflage and rainbow styles. Choose from colors like red, blue, pink, and green. Thanks to these options, it’s simple to find a look that your kid will love.

Another feature to love? Its versatile multifunctionality, which makes the watch supremely practical. It features a large digital display, showing the hour, minute, and seconds clearly. This display makes the time easy to read, and there isn’t any other distracting information displayed on the watch face. Buttons allow your child to toggle between different functions, including an alarm, calendar, and stopwatch. An EL backlight ensures that the watch is easy to read even in the dark.

This watch is water resistant up to 50 meters. That means your child can wash their hands, take a shower, or play in the rain with the watch on. However, it’s not waterproof, so be sure your child avoids submerging it in water, whether that’s in the bathtub, swimming pool, or ocean.

Overall, this watch is well designed for durability. It features a soft rubber band that’s easy to adjust, allowing it to fit kids’ wrists of all sizes. A stainless steel buckle lends durability to this watch. Your kid can even wear it when playing sports and being active, making it a versatile addition to their wardrobe.

KIDPER Kids Digital Watch

The KIDPER Kids Digital Watch is defined by its large watch face and digital display, which makes all of the content easy to read. The watch face includes the time, including hours, minutes, and seconds, along with the day of the week and the month and day. All of these numbers are easily visible, making this watch ideal for kids of all ages, whether they’re just learning to read numbers or they’re seasoned pros.

One of the highlights of this watch is its durable design. You’ll be impressed by its sturdiness when you take it out of the package. The watch case and band is rubber, which is soft and comfortable on your child’s wrist. Metal elements, including the watch case backing and buckle, are made of stainless steel. A resin glass mirror protects the watch face. Together, these elements create an especially durable design that is essential for active kids. Keep in mind, however, that this watch face is larger, so it may look oversized on younger kids wrists.

The KIDPER Kids Digital Watch offers more than a simple time display. Buttons surround the watch face, allowing kids to toggle between modes. They can set an alarm, use the stopwatch, and check out the calendar. They can also set a countdown, which will be helpful if they need a reminder to come inside for dinner, turn off the TV, or start their homework. This watch is water resistant but not waterproof, so be sure your child removes it before bathing or swimming.

Sun-Team Kids Watch

The Sun-Team Kids Watch is a simple, classic watch that boasts a smaller silhouette, making it suitable for even young children. In fact, it’s designed to fit kids ages 3 to 10. This watch might lack the bells and whistles of digital styles, but it’s a cute analog watch designed for the child who wants to learn to tell time.

First, consider its durable design. It features a high-quality silicone strap, which is soft on your child’s wrist. The strap is adorned with a 3D pattern, so you can find butterflies, fire trucks, or dinosaurs displayed on the strap, adding a playful touch. The watch face is well protected in a polycarbonate case that’s extra sturdy. The stainless steel case back and buckle lend further durability to this watch.

Seven designs are available, pairing different colors with different 3D patterns on the straps. You can find styles for both boys and girls. This watch face includes bold, colorful numbers that are easy to read. The hour and minute hands are different colors, which can help your child distinguish between them when learning to tell time. Setting the time is simple too, so you won’t need to pore through any instruction manuals to get this watch set up. This watch includes one LR44 battery, which you can replace when it dies.

A Final Look at the Best Kids Watches

The VTech KidiZoom Smart Watch delivers the best features for kids of all ages, making it our choice as the best watch in this category. This smart watch offers both analog and digital watch faces, allowing kids to learn to tell time both ways. Plus, the easy-to-navigate touchscreen interface offers plenty of fun, while kids can develop their technology skills (perhaps without even knowing it!). This watch can appeal to kids of all ages, from preschoolers to elementary schoolers and beyond.

Of course, you might be looking for a simpler option or just one watch face, in which case you have plenty of options as well. No matter the watch you choose, you can rest easy knowing that you won’t have to answer “What time is it?” forever.