Best activity trackers for 8 and 12 year olds?

[MWestie]

I'd like to get activity watches/trackers for my 8 and 12 year olds but know nothing about them and don't want to get anything too young that they'll grow out of.

Any recommendations for anything easy to use, non fiddly, non gimmicky?

Many thanks!

I've bought DD a Fitbit Ace2 for her birthday next week. She's going to be 8. They are hugely popular in her class at school.

Thanks @SillyUnMurphy for your reply, that's good to know.

Little bump for any more recommendations?

I've just bought Fitbit ace 2 for my Ds & DD today, they are 9 and 11. If you get them from Currys they are down to £49 and you get a free Google mini too. It was in-store today.

We got dd10 a Fitbit ace rather than the ace 2. I think the 2 is a little young looking which obviously depends on the child I know but also a few reviews I read suggested that for some 10 year olds the ace 2 was actually too small.

If you’re not set on Fitbit, Amazon have a lot of trackers for @ £20 or even less. We got ds a letscom one which tbh doesn’t look very different to a fitbit. I can’t comment on how good it might be yet as it’s a Christmas present but I’ve seen them recommended by lots of MNers.

Thanks so much for posting this info @Tiredmummyof3 and @WhereverIMayRoam, I need to have a think and decide.

I love my Fitbit, but can't think of anything less appropriate to give to an 8yo child.

My neice and nephew never use their Fitbit’s. Can’t be bothered charging them🙄

You can get pretty simple fitness trackers for about £20 on Amazon- they count your steps etc

My dd got a Fitbit ace last Christmas and wears it every day although doesn't pay much attention to the steps. I've added her to the app on my phone. Sometimes it is reluctant to sync which can make the time wrong if it's run out of charge but it's soon resolved. I don't see why they are unsuitable except they are a bit pricey to be wearing to school. I went for Fitbit as i already have one myself and it seemed simpler to stick with the same brand.

Garmin’s use a coin cell battery, so last an entire year. I’d not buy a fit bit for a child due to needed to charge every 4 days.

My 7 year old got the garmin vívofit last year. Been impressed with it, once I realised DH hadn’t chucked out the charger, it doesn’t use one 😅

DS 7 has a Xiaomi Mi band 4. It has a coloured screen and you can even add your own photos. It does all the usual tracking incl swimming and I can set reminders for him. There are reviews on YouTube. We ordered it from eBay (from China) and it was about £20. You have to charge every 12 + days DS never forgets as he loves wearing it. I think it is really good value for money.

Thanks for these further posts. Keen to avoid those that need lots of charging!

Our nearly 9yr old has the Garmin Vivo fit, he's not taken it off once since he got it for his 7th birthday. It's great for him because it doesn't need charging. We've asked him if he wants to change to a Fitbit but he doesn't.

Fitbit needs charging approx once a week.

I’ve got a lintek which was about £25. Needs charging every 3 days or so

Ds has the apple Nike series 5 (age 13) and tbh is an amazing price of tech.

Ds2 (10) currently has a Fitbit 2 however we’ve updated it this year to a fitbit versa, haven’t really read any negative comments.

Sorry ds Apple Nike watch gets changed when ds showers every night and on a Friday night he charges it for 4 hours when at an activity that isn’t allowed watches etc

I'm not sure they're good for children.

Why @Drizzzle? It’s encouraged mine to want to walk to school to hit their active goals.

We have gone for the Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 for our DD who is 9. I wanted one that counted steps but not calories as this is inappropriate for a child. The strap styles are quite 'young' but you can get alternative straps very cheaply on Amazon or Ebay.

Because children are active naturally. They ahouldn't need goals and rewards to keepmaxtive.

@drizzle We all end up lazy unless we’re motivated. Children too. If it’s cold and raining, the fitness tracker adds a slight positive to continue to walk to school. Then you build repeat behaviours, they become habits. Habits they take into adulthood.

You said it wasn’t ‘good for children’ - But then you said it wasn’t needed. I don’t see any negatives. It doesn’t count calories.

I think it’s both good and sometimes needed in modern society where screens and cars are life. It works for me personally too.

I don’t think I’d give one to a child that young

@Lolapippin my two are under OP ages. Why do you think it’s a bad thing?