All year long, schools have been facing the challenge of dealing with student cellphone use. Many educators noticed that it had become a constant issue among older grade students, disrupting instruction. However, what schools haven't tackled during the same period is the emergence of smartwatches among younger kids. A few years ago, these high-tech wearables took off among preteens and early teens, and now they are increasingly showing up in classrooms and school buildings. This summer, as schools were rewriting their device policies, EdSurge decided to explore the world of kids' smartwatches in depth.

Uncovering the Impact and Implications of Kids' Smartwatches

Smartwatches: The New First Device for Kids

Smartwatches initially launched as a device for adults about a decade ago. But kids quickly showed interest, and more companies started designing watches specifically for them. Today, companies like T-Mobile, Verizon, and Garmin are advertising smartwatches to kids as young as 5 years old. Sales data and educator observations indicate that the trend really took off around 2019 and 2020. With a price of around $150, they are more accessible for families compared to smartphones. Kids' smartwatches now have advanced capabilities such as photo and video capture, video calling, full keyboard for texting, voice messaging, group chats, and geofencing. A Verizon spokesperson described them as "truly a phone replacement on their wrist."These devices have become an important part of kids' lives, allowing them to stay connected and have some independence. But it also raises questions about the impact on their learning and development.

Parent Fear: The Driving Force Behind the Market

Kids naturally want to have access to the same technology as their older siblings, parents, and peers. But parents' purchasing decisions are mainly driven by the need to communicate with their child and track their location. Smartwatches offer a cheaper and safer alternative to smartphones as they have more limited features and apps. Around the age of 8 to 11, many parents want to give their children more freedom and independence. Smartwatches give them the "peace of mind" to let their children engage in various activities. However, some observers argue that the "independence" allowed by smartwatches is somewhat hollow as parents can still monitor their children.This shows the complex relationship between parents and smartwatches and how it affects the market.

The Impact on Kids: What We Know and Don't Know

So far, there has been limited research on the impact of smartwatches on young children's learning and development. Data on adoption and use is also scarce. We do know that screens of all kinds can have negative effects on children, affecting their mental health, cognitive development, social and emotional development, and language development. Smartwatches, like other devices, have the tendency to distract and disrupt with their pings, buzzes, and chimes. This can be a nuisance for teachers and school leaders in classroom settings.But overall, smartwatches may be a "safer" choice for kids compared to smartphones as the screen is smaller and there are certain safety features built into kid-focused watches.

Cellphone Bans and the Smartwatch Loophole

Countless school districts and several states have implemented new cellphone policies for the 2024-25 school year, aiming to promote higher engagement and focused learning and improve youth mental health. However, these policies often only apply to phones, leaving a loophole for smartwatches and other connected devices. For older students who have both a smartphone and a smartwatch, it is easy to skirt the rules. Their phones may be locked away, but if their watch is within reach, they can still receive calls and messages.Some schools have recognized the disruptiveness of smartwatches and added them to their device policies, but they are the exception. It may take another year or two for other districts to realize this omission and take action.This highlights the need to address the issue of smartwatches in schools and find a balance between allowing students to have some technology and maintaining a conducive learning environment.