Smartwatch for a 10 year old?

[OverExpectantParent]

DC2 is supposed to be going on an overnight school trip soon. I'm reluctant to allow her to go without having a means to contact us. I believe phones are not allowed so I'm looking into a smart watch which can make and receive phone calls. Am I right in thinking an Apple Watch has to be set up with an iPhone with a SIM card and can't be linked to a pre-paid sim? Does it have to be in the vicinity of your actual phone to work or can you still make calls if you're three hours away?

She doesn't have a phone and I wasn't planning to get her one until next year, but school have forced my hand on this!
Does anyone have a TCL family watch - is it too babyish for a 10-12 year old? What do your too young for phones but starting to gain independence DC use?

An apple watch for a 10 year old? Just no!
Surely she doesn't need to contact you on a trip with school? If there's a problem the teachers will call you. Being able to phone home just causes issues with homesickness - hence why the schools have said no phones.

If there's a problem the teachers will call you. Being able to phone home just causes issues with homesickness - hence why the schools have said no phones.
Yep, I'm well aware of the theory and that's what we said when DC1 went on his residential. After the teachers left him with a broken bone for three and a half days and didn't call us, I'm somewhat dubious of the claim "the teachers will call if there is a problem". I'm never sending my DC away with the school again unless they can contact me directly.

My daughter went on a residential trip this year and one of the kids snuck in a phone because their mum wanted to be able to contact them. This annoyed the hell out of all the other kids who had followed the rules, for this reason I don't think it's a great idea.

If you can’t trust them to look after your child why would you let them go? Either trust them and stick to the rules or you don’t trust them and DC doesn’t go

Mine have Xplora X5. Works as advertised, you can track them and they can call and message you.

I’m mooting something like this for my son’s tenth birthday, assuming it has some controls so it’s not useable in school hours

eshop.v.vodafone.com/uk/neo-smart-kids-watch?cid=ppc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8_bO34KS-AIVCHmLCh0-tQoXEAAYAiAAEgITVPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It’s more as a precursor to getting a mobile though. I wouldn’t send it to a residential

Absolutely this. Please don't send your dd with a smartwatch.

I don't think the school have "forced your hand".

Does an Apple watch have internet access? A camera? I wouldn't be happy to send my child away with yours if it does.

My dd has a space talk. I get it through sky as I have the tv and as I've been with them. Few years it was practically free as I used up data I wasn't using on my mobiles.

Another good one we had was by oaxis.

They can phone, send pre set messages, icons or voice notes. Plus you can see them on a map.

I'd recommend either.

Neither of these watches have internet access. Just phone and text and tracking

My daughter went on a residential trip this year and one of the kids snuck in a phone because their mum wanted to be able to contact them. This annoyed the hell out of all the other kids who had followed the rules, for this reason I don't think it's a great idea.
This is why I'm looking into the idea of a watch 🤷‍♀️

I don't want her to have a phone yet. Or an internet connection, although a prepaid would have data for the watch's GPS function. I think she's too young.

I don't think the school have "forced your hand".
I think they have. They have proved that their "we'll contact you if there's a problem is meaningless."