Fitbit activity tracker for an 8 year old - should I be concerned?

[SpinningTops]

DD8 wants a fitbit for Christmas. She's a pretty active child but I worry about the competitive aspect of it.

I don't want to create issues with her wanting to achieve badges and challenges which lead to disordered thinking.

I see the cheaper ones also have calories on them which I want to avoid - I can't see if fitbit has this though.

Does anyone's child have one and if so do you regret it?

I have one, they didn't exist when my DS was that age, but i think you're right to be concerned as she's already active, so could start to obsess a bit. Thin line between being active for health and being active to be attractive.

It's useful for me to remind me to go for a walk at lunchtime, but i had to turn off the email notifications as it was getting overwhelming. If she's used to having a fitbit she is likely to sync it to her phone when she gets one, and so would never be not connected. I'd wait till she's lots older for a fitbit.

A basic pedometer could be a compromise.

Why does she want one? I don't know much about them, can you play games on them?

I think her friends have them. So that's why.

I don't particularly want her to have one but it's what she'll ask for from Father Christmas which makes it slightly trickier ...

We're not a big screen time family - she doesn't have any devices so feels a bit out of my comfort zone.

My DCs have junior Fitbits. They are pretty basic, used to tell the time and track steps, they have never either of them mentioned calories so its either not on there or has been set up without. They like to see what they have achieved in a day, compare between p.e. and non-p.e. days. Laugh at how few steps it takes to do the 'mile a day' but basically a watch with a pedometer is how mine use them.

I'd be happy with that! Just a watch and steps. Nothing else, maybe could set it on walk mode if we go for a hike / cycle.

The kids ones are really basic. Just track steps.