We have finally hit that moment in the Hopkins Household. The moment when the kids are old enough to start venturing off by themselves in the world, and by that I mean head to the park that is a five minute walk down our road, and no longer need Adam and I within eyesight.
It’s glorious! And to be completely honest, a little scary. Yes, I grew up in the 90s when parents had no idea where their kids were half the time, and we spent most of our days getting into crazy shenanigans. But that was the glory days of before, and now we live in a much scarier world (or so it seems.)
If you are a parent of an elementary or middle schooler, you have also probably hit that moment. The one where your child is old enough to walk to school on their own, ride bikes around the neighborhood with friends or stay a little late after baseball practice to play on the playground for a bit.
You want to give them the freedom and trust that they deserve, but also want to be smart and cautious, as a good parent should be. Therefore, you want a way to reach them and know where they are, without handing them a full smartphone packed with social media, open web browsers and endless digital distractions.
Enter the Fitbit Ace LTE Smartwatch for Kids!
Google and Fitbit designed this watch specifically for kids aged seven to eleven. It strikes the perfect balance between giving kids independence and giving parents peace of mind.
Here is my honest breakdown of why the Fitbit Ace LTE is a favorite tech tool for our chaotic family schedule, and why we decided to choose it over other options that were clearly lacking.
1. Safety and Communication, without the open internet.
One of the biggest fears parents have about giving kids access to technology is that their children will have uncensored access to social media and the dangers of the web. The Fitbit ACE LTE eliminates that stress entirely by offering:
- Two-Way Calls and Voice Messaging. Griff and Owen can make phone calls, send text messages and leave voice notes from their wrist.
- Strict Parental Controls. Adam and I can pre-approve up to twenty trusted contacts through the Fitbit Ace app, so strangers and spammers cannot contact the kids.
- Real-Time GPS Tracking. We can verify that Griff and Owen are exactly where they should be by opening the Fitbit Ace app on our phone to see their precise location in real time.
- SOS Emergency Calling. If Griff or Owen feel unsafe they can hold down the side button and initiate an emergy call cycle to key contacts.
No social media apps, web browsers or anything of the like is included. The watch is purely for communication and active fun!
2. It Gets Our Kids Outside.
The Fitbit Ace LTE turns staying active into an interactive game experience. The watch comes loaded with 3D games designed specifically for the device’s motion sensors. And it helps Griff and Owen leave the house to play outside, and feel safe while doing it!
3. School-Time Mode.
A lot of schools won’t allow digital watches or smartphones as they are a distraction during class. Through the Fitbit Ace app, parents can schedule School Time modes where normal messaging and notifications are locked.
4. Kid-Proof Durability and Battery Life.
Owen is especially rough on his tech. The number of times he has dropped his tablet or Nintendo Switch and luckily not seen its demise must make him a leprechaun he is so lucky. Thankfully, the Fitbit Ace LTE was built to survive playgrounds, puddles, baseball and boys!
- Water-resistant up to 50M. It can be worn in the pool, shower or at the beach.
- Durable Screen & Bumper. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and protective rubber bumper keep the watch safe from all types of activities.
- Fast Charging. A full charge provides 16+ hours of battery life, and fast-charging can give it a 60 percent boost in just thirty minutes.
5. Easy Setup and No Carrier Contracts.
You don’t need to sign up for a costly cell contract to activate LTE. Google manages the LTE connectivity directly through the Fitbit Ace Pass subscription, which costs only $9.99 per month or $119 per year. The parental control app works seamlessly for iPhone or Android devices too!
In summary, the Fitbit Ace LTE is definitely worth it! In my experience it is the safe, durable and fun stepping stone prior to a smartphone.
Your kids will get the independence they need, while getting outside for more screen-free time, and you will have peace of mind that they are safe. And there is nothing more important than that in this chaos filled life!
