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Original poster

DD turns 10 on Friday and the only thing she would really like is an Apple Watch. Would you?

47 replies

AliceInSlumberville · 26/01/2022 10:51

DD3 is turning 10 on Friday; she does not have a phone. Her elder sisters both in high school both have phones and watches (hand me downs from DH and I).

DD3 is begging for a phone but she knows she won’t get one until she starts high school. All she would like for her birthday is an Apple Watch to text us on Confused .

DD3 is always with us but I see the novelty and grown up feeling of it appeals to her.

To allow her to text we would need to purchase her a data plan; it’s low cost for the plan. DH does not see the point in buying her a watch without the data to text as it would then just be similar to a basic fitness watch.

There is the option to set up “school time” on the watch so she would be unable to text during school hours (very important!).

Has anyone else given their primary aged DC an adult styled smart watch? Can Apple Watches be used without an iPhone? Do primary schools allow them to be worn?

I’m undecided on whether to get her one or not. It would be her only present but she would be delighted. Thoughts?

OP posts:
Fletchersromancing · 26/01/2022 10:54

Without a phone I really wouldn't get her a watch. Maybe get her concert tickets or an activity she likes to do?

2tired2bewitty · 26/01/2022 10:54

Have you checked with her school whether she would be allowed to wear it? At our school we don’t allow anything with a camera.

girlmom21 · 26/01/2022 10:54

I think it's an extortionate amount of money to spend on a 10 year old and there's no point getting her a watch without the accompanying phone.

Texting on an Apple Watch kills the battery.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/01/2022 10:56

Smart watches, fitness trackers etc all banned at DDs school.

elQuintoConyo · 26/01/2022 10:58

Nope.

PrayingandHoping · 26/01/2022 10:58

I am not sure the point of an Apple Watch without the phone? It would loose the majority of its functions

They arent good to text on anyway.

Sleepyquest · 26/01/2022 10:58

Seems like a complete waste of time and money to me. A few hundred quid so she can text you when you're in her vicinity anyway? It'll get broken at school.
Suggest something else Smile

Bunce1 · 26/01/2022 10:58

No phone so no point?

LefttoherownDevizes · 26/01/2022 11:01

No way would the battery last all day if it was being used without a phone, using stand alone data kills the battery in a few hours.

There is no camera on the watch itself but I know DS primary school didn't allow these devices. And have you actually tried texting on it? You have to write one letter at a time (or dictate to it) there's no on screen key pad).

Finally, normally the data plan is an add on to a phone I've, so mine is tied to my phone. Messages go to both watch and phone. I don't know you can do it with only the watch, it works be with finding out first.

You should check with Apple, the mobile companies are hopeless and don't have a clue

Original poster
AliceInSlumberville · 26/01/2022 11:01

I think it would be frowned upon at school; it then renders it fairly pointless if she can’t wear it mid week. She is also not allowed to wear it to her gymnastics classes for safety reasons.

I have already told DD not to expect one. I told her I would do a lot of research and then come to a decision but it is likely she will need to choose a different gift.

Any other suggestions for some “cool” gifts for a ten year old?

OP posts:
BlingLoving · 26/01/2022 11:03

I'd get her a phone rather than the watch personally. My year 6 DC is walking to and from school, has his phone and is in regular contact with many friends on his phone via text and/or WhatsApp. I think the watch works better as an adjunct to the phone, not instead of.

SomePosters · 26/01/2022 11:04

I got my 10yo dd a leatherman

She has repeatedly shown she can be trusted to care for high value items and she was desperate for a multi tool

Honestly an Apple Watch especially without the phone is a pointless expensive thing

erinaceus · 26/01/2022 11:06

If what she wants is to text you, a non-smart phone would do that.

FlexibleWorkingDenied · 26/01/2022 11:12

@2tired2bewitty

Have you checked with her school whether she would be allowed to wear it? At our school we don’t allow anything with a camera.
It doesn’t have a camera.

However I’d doubt it would be allowed in school anyway.

cheekychaplin · 26/01/2022 11:16

To allow her to text we would need to purchase her a data plan; it’s low cost for the plan.

I'm sure it needs to be paired to an iPhone for text function?

RustyBear · 26/01/2022 11:20

You can't use an Apple Watch until it's been set up with an iPhone. Does anyone else in the family have one? And I'm not sure if there are any providers that will give you a stand alone Watch data plan (mine is an add-on to my phone contract) But most importantly, as a previous poster has said, the battery would hardly last any time at all if the Watch wasn't near the phone. If I go for a long walk without my phone, my watch will usually need topping up before the end of the day, whereas normally it's only about half discharged by then. (Mine is v4, later ones do have a better battery, but I'm not sure how much difference it makes)The watch will first try to communicate via a paired phone by Bluetooth when it's in range. Then by wifi when they are on the same network, but this takes more battery. Finally it will try data, and this is what really hammers the battery.
If your DD hasn't got a phone, why not give her one for this birthday , and the watch can come later, maybe as a combination of presents and her saving.

RustyBear · 26/01/2022 11:23

When I worked in a primary school, lots of kids got phones for their 10th birthdays, and they had to be handed in during the school day. There was only one child who had a smartwatch while I was there, and that wasn't allowed in school either - it was 4 years ago, so probably a lot more have them now, but I don't know what the policy is now.

Scbchl · 26/01/2022 11:25

I got my 12 year old one for Xmas. After she wanted it. Its sat unworn now for about 3 weeks. Total waste of money.

leftistbimbo · 26/01/2022 11:27

If she just wants to text you could you not just get her a cheap mobile? not a smart phone.

Original poster
AliceInSlumberville · 26/01/2022 11:28

We are reluctant to give her a phone for the same reasons; she doesn’t need one and it is very unlikely to get used.

She uses her tablet to communicate with her friends and they also play over (heavily supervised) voice chat online.

In the area we live it’s more unusual for her age range to own their own phone than it is for them not to have one. Our elder daughters were given phones for their birthdays before high school and DD3 will be the same.

I know she would be delighted with the watch but if I think the novelty will last all of thirty minutes before it’s discarded in a drawer .

OP posts:
Mandofan · 26/01/2022 11:28

I would get her a phone. I don’t think 10 is an unreasonable age for a smart phone

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 26/01/2022 11:28

Smartwatches are not allowed at my children's primary school.

user1471504747 · 26/01/2022 11:29

Agree with everything posters have put above, but also one of the main functions of the Apple Watch is activity monitoring and fitness. I’d be worried about setting her up with an unhealthy obsession tbh.

I’d just get her a phone, she’ll be going to secondary school soon and getting more independence so she’ll need one sooner or later.

PrayingandHoping · 26/01/2022 11:31

@user1471504747

Agree with everything posters have put above, but also one of the main functions of the Apple Watch is activity monitoring and fitness. I’d be worried about setting her up with an unhealthy obsession tbh.

I’d just get her a phone, she’ll be going to secondary school soon and getting more independence so she’ll need one sooner or later.

Good point

And u can't even view all the stats on the watch anyway.... u have to look it up on the phone

I don't think it's designed to be used as a sole unit

Aderyn21 · 26/01/2022 11:31

I'd buy her an iPhone. I can't see the point in buying a child something they don't really want when they already have their heart set on a specific thing. (Am assuming you can afford it since the Apple Watch is also expensive). My dd has the iPhone SE (2020 version) which wasn't too expensive (as iPhones go). Your dd is nearly high school age so personally I don't consider it to be too young.