So one of our regular readers, who is a mom of two daughters, 12 and 13 years old, about Apple Watch’s safety, tracking and parental control features.
She wasn’t sure about that if Apple Watch provides real-time tracking and parental control features and asked me to provide a brief list of features that Apple Watch SE and Series 8 Watch offers.
This is not a comprehensive guide, instead I’ll be adding a short list of Apple Watch features which can be useful for parents to keep them safe online and offline.
For parents who want to control their child screen usage time can read my screen time limit guide. I also recommend parents to use porn blocker apps, parental control apps, and safe browsers to browse securely.
How can the tracking features of the Apple Watch help family members stay safe?
As the Technical Head at Parentaldaily, I constantly explore and recommend devices that can ensure the safety and well-being of family members, especially children.
Recently, I tested two versions of the Apple Watch: the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 8, on my 13-year-old niece and 14-year-old nephew.
After two weeks of usage, I found that the tracking capabilities of these smart watches offer several safety features that could help family members stay safe.
I really like these two Apple Watches and also included them in my recommended list of watches in my reviews – Kids Apple Watch, Smartwatch for Children, Smartwatch for Women, Fall detection Smartwatch and Phone Watch with Sim card.
Family Setup
The Apple Watch offers a feature called Family Setup that allows you to set up and manage Apple Watches for family members who don’t have their own iPhone, such as children or older adults.
You only need your Apple ID and an iPhone 6s or later to get started. Through the Family Setup feature, you can monitor their location in real time, ensuring they are safe and where they should be.
Stay Connected and Informed
With the Apple Watch, you can make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and even use Apple Pay for purchases.
This ensures that your family members are always contactable and can reach you in case of any potential dangers. It also means they don’t have to carry cash or cards, further enhancing their safety.
Safety Features
Both versions of the Apple Watch come equipped with an Emergency SOS feature. In case of an emergency, family members can easily alert local authorities with a simple push of a button.
Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 8 also has a fall detection feature that automatically sends an alert if it detects a hard fall, making it a potentially life-saving device.
Apple Watch is a great gadget to keep track oy your young children. But I would recommend parents to use a dedicated GPS tracking device like Jiobit, Invoxia Tracker, or Garmin Bounce – offering advanced tracking features like a panic button, long-lasting battery, real time alerts, virtual boundaries, and many more.
Parents can also use real-time location tracking apps or family locator apps to track their kid’s whereabouts if they own an iPhone or an Android phone. Apps like Life360 and Family360 offer excellent phone tracking capabilities and are very effecient and reliable.
While Apple Watch and other smartwatches offer excellent tracking and safety features, they are primarily maerketed as health and fitness smartwatches with titbits of tracking features.
Schooltime Mode
The Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 8 also have a Schooltime mode. This feature limits distractions by blocking app notifications during school hours, ensuring your children can focus on their studies.
Plus, it allows you to set specific contacts that your child can call or receive calls from during these hours, helping them stay safe while at school.
In conclusion, the Apple Watch, with its excellent battery life and comprehensive tracking features, offers a practical and smart way to ensure the safety of your family members.
Whether you choose the Apple Watch SE or the Apple Watch Series 8, you can confidently equip your loved ones with a device that can help them stay safe and connected.
Parvinder Singh is a seasoned IT developer and network engineer with over 5 years of experience. He is also a skilled tech columnist, offering insights on the latest trends and developments in the tech industry.