...to think a soon to be six year old doesn't need a bloody smartwatch?

[artisanscotcheggs]

Just that really.

I don't know if I'm being an old grump or not, but I really don't see why a young child needs a smartwatch. Fiancé's ex wife wants to get one for the child they had together. He actually agrees with me, neither of us think she needs one, we could get her a standard watch until she's a bit older. I'm just trying to gauge it we are both being grouches. I'm the kind of person who finds it completely bizarre when i hear parents talking about their child's new iPad - only to find out they're four years old or something. Who gives a four year old an iPad? You can buy lower priced tablets that won't break the bank when they are inevitably broken within five minutes. I'm genuinely stunned.

She has supervised time on a tablet and also some time gaming on a Nintendo switch that belongs to her father, but those things are always supervised, and don't involve any socialising online.

So Mumsnet, am I being Oscar The Grouch, or is a plain non internet watch quite enough for a soon to be six year old?

Thank you in advance. Picture of Oscar attached just in case that is in fact me.

[SD1978]

Depends on what one. Vetch do a great one, can only make calls to numbers out on it by parents, and has some games. Can FaceTime the other parent whenever they want. An Apple Watch- nope, don't see a need.

[Saturdaycartoon]

YANBU. Bad enough they know what a smart watch is at that age! Can they tell the time?

As an aside - I got an iPad for use by dd ( and the rest of us, it deifinitely isn't described as hers). It's lasted for several years - so long it isn't really supported anymore and we will probably have to upgrade soon as Netflix won't even work on it anymore. The train I chose the iPad ( mini, 2.5 times the price of the tablet I was considering) was the kid proof case. I reckoned it would stand up to much greater beating. When it was flung aside without a second thought on the first day as she ran to the bathroom I thought,'well, I could have just as usefully torn up two fifty pound notes there if I'd bought the cheap one!' So sometimes, it does make sense.

Isn't it sneaky though that Netflix won't work on older model iPads! I'm particularly unimpressed about that, she said bitterly. Maybe someone has a thread on it...

[itsbritneybiatches]

It's a watch phone.

[itsbritneybiatches]

My daughter has an oaxis my first fone.

It's great.

She's five.

[artisanscotcheggs]

@Noidlet yes I think I'm inclined to agree there. I think in terms of a mobile phone, I'd probably lean towards a PAYG device with an unlimited texts/calls package so that a child would always have the ability to call or text, with stringent parental controls of course.

[artisanscotcheggs]

@FortunesFave not really, I love her very much, and I am not yet her step-mum as her father and I are still only engaged. As much as I want and would love to call her my step-daughter, she isn't yet, and her mum probably wouldn't appreciate it.

[Noidlet]

In my mind secondary school is a good benchmark for requiring and being responsible enough for a basic phone that does calls and texts.
As for smartphones that require contracts and a different level of understanding regarding things like internet safety or parental responsibility for locking them down, I honestly don't know what age I'd be comfortable. I'd probably say 15 or when they can buy one themselves!
Probably not reasonable though due to peer pressure and it being the norm to have one. It's a tough question and probably depends more on the child than anything.

[FortunesFave]

wants to get one for the child they had together

Odd way to refer to your fiance's daughter or son.

[artisanscotcheggs]

I don't feel she needs to be tracked all the time as she is ferried to school etc by her parents, and any after school stuff she does, she's again with one of her parents, or grandparents.

So an additional question for people still reading/or who may read; what age world you consider appropriate for a child to have a smart watch? How about a mobile phone? I think for me both of those items might be appropriate when they are doing something like walking to and from school independently, or using public transport to do the same thing. Even then, is there any reason why a mobile would need anything other than SMS capability, rather than a smartphone?

I don't even own a smartwatch, neither does my bloke, but unless there's something we are missing, I'm glad it seems we aren't being unreasonable.

Well, for now. People may suddenly turn up and tell us we are. 🙊

[FeralBeryl]

Depends if it's a full blown apple job, or one of the vtech type 'smart' watches. DD6 has the latter and it's much coveted by DD5 for its games and calculator. You can download stuff onto it but we haven't yet.

[budgetneeded]

It might be useful as a tracking device, my Apple Watch maps out my every footstep.

[AGHHHH]

Yanbu

[Noidlet]

My understanding is that in order for a Smartwatch to be 'smart' it would need be be attached to a phone via bluetooth etc? If she doesn't have a phone then the watch would be limited and quite pointless. Can't see a 6 year old being impressed with a calculator. That's pretty much all my old Samsung Gear can do without being connected to a phone!

[AuntieOxident]

Christ no. YANBU!