Parents in India, rejoice! Apple has introduced the “Apple Watch for Your Kids” feature, now available on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 and later models. This new addition brings the incredible communication, health, fitness, and safety features of the Apple Watch to children and other family members who don’t have an iPhone.
Setting up Apple Watch for Your Kids
Setting up the Apple Watch for your kids is a straightforward process. Parents can use their iPhone to configure the watch, allowing kids to make phone calls, send messages, and stay connected with family and friends. Personalised Activity goals motivate kids to stay active, and custom Memoji offers a fun way for them to express their creativity. Parents can approve all contacts, ensuring that kids use the communication features safely.
Health and safety first
The Apple Watch for Your Kids isn’t just about communication—it’s a powerful tool for health and safety. Features like Emergency SOS provide peace of mind, allowing kids to easily contact emergency services with the side button. Parents can also receive notifications and track their child’s location using the Find People app, which offers customisable location alerts.
Independent yet connected
Kids using the Apple Watch for Your Kids will have their own phone number through a separate cellular plan. By using their own Apple ID, they can manage tasks with Reminders, follow their schedules using Calendar, and view photo albums synced from a guardian’s iPhone. This independence is further enhanced with Apple Music, allowing kids to play their favourite songs via Bluetooth headphones and speakers, and ask Siri for help with questions or language translations.
Stay active and engaged
The Activity rings experience on the Apple Watch has been optimised for kids. Instead of tracking kilojoules burned, kids can monitor Move minutes, with customisable goals for the Exercise and Stand rings. Workouts like Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, and Outdoor Cycle are specifically tuned for kids, providing appropriate credit for Move minutes, exercise, distance, and other metrics.
Coaching notifications are tailored to be engaging and understandable for kids, complete with fun emoji. Kids can also send and receive Activity Sharing invitations, challenge friends with Activity Competitions, and celebrate milestones with the Awards page on their wrist.
Safety and security features
The Emergency SOS feature is a standout, allowing kids to quickly access emergency services and notifying guardians listed as emergency contacts. The Medical ID feature is crucial for documenting medical conditions, allergies, and medications, which guardians can view with permission through the Health app on iPhone. Kids can also view their shared health information on their Apple Watch.
Parents can manage the apps and content available on the watch through Content Restrictions and Ask to Buy support. The App Store on Apple Watch enables kids to download third-party apps directly, expanding their watch’s functionality.
Focus on education
The Schooltime feature helps ensure that kids stay focused during class. A distinctive yellow circle on the watch face signifies that access to apps is restricted and Do Not Disturb is enabled. Parents can set the Schooltime schedule on their iPhone or activate it via Control Centre on the child’s watch. The Downtime feature extends to Apple Watch, reminding kids five minutes before it begins, promoting responsible usage.
Availability in India
The Apple Watch for Your Kids is available on cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 or later and Apple Watch SE, paired with iPhone 8 or later running the latest watchOS and iOS. A wireless service plan for Apple Watch is required for cellular service, currently available through Jio in India.
Requirements
To use Apple Watch for Your Kids, you’ll need:
- An Apple Watch Series 4 or later with mobile data, or an Apple Watch SE with mobile data, running watchOS 7 or later.
- An iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later for the initial watch setup.
- An Apple ID for yourself and one for the family member using the Apple Watch, with two-factor authentication enabled.
- A Family Sharing group that includes the person using the Apple Watch. You need to be the organiser or parent/guardian to set up the watch for a family member.
