If your kid isn't ready for a phone, a smartwatch might be a better fit

Most kid smartwatches have some kind of celebration for reaching goals, and it's always more fun for a device to nag about a chore than your parents. That's a given. But Garmin partnered with Disney to add some extra motivation magic to its reward system: Frozen II, Star Wars, Spider-Man, and Mickey and Minnie are available not only as band decor, but as the theme for an interactive Disney adventure. 

Parents can assign tasks for each child like chores or homework, then allot a certain number of coins to each task. The Vívofit sends reminders throughout the day — though kids will probably be too psyched on the rewards to require a heads up. Once a task (or daily 60-minute activity goal) is completed, kids unlock a prize specified by the parents as well as an animated chapter of their Disney story on the app.

Customizable watch faces, timers, and more are all easily accessible with a few presses of the button. Large letters and simple animations make it intuitive enough for kids as young as four to grasp. Parents can even add themselves to the kid account to rev up the competition in the step count leaderboard.

The fact that Fitbit and Garmin have carved out a space in the kid wearable market was expected. But what may surprise you is how VTech managed to give both big names a run for their money by honing in on the stuff kids really want: games and videos.

If the smartwatch for your child is meant to be a true source of entertainment — as in something that'll keep them busy enough to stop asking for an iPad — the VTech Kidizoom DX2 will be your kid's new favorite toy. He or she can use the touchscreen to swipe through over 50 analog and digital watch faces and silly selfie filters, take videos, or play one of the five games (including an augmented reality monster hunt that encourages problem solving and getting up and moving). The 256MB storage can hold 1,600 photos or 11 one-minute videos.

Both the screen resolution and dual camera resolutions have been majorly improved since the original Kidizoom watch. The actual watch unit has also been de-clunkified compared to the last version and makes for more aerobic movement of little arms.

Many kids are involved in extracurriculars that make for a hectic schedule. Parents may feel better if their kid's wearable can be used to confirm that they've safely made it from school to practice. The Xplora X5 Play makes that possible with built-in GPS, as well as calling or texting parent-approved contacts and an SOS feature. 

The Xplora X5 Play is considered a kids' smartwatch rather than just a fitness tracker, but its step count reward system is super cool and tangible. Kids earn an Xcoin for every 1,000 steps, which can be put toward actual prizes (from headphones and Fire tablets to movies) on Xplora's GoPlay store.

The Xplora X5 Play requires a T-Mobile or AT&T cellular contract. For Verizon users, the GizmoWatch 2(opens in a new tab) is very similar to the X5 Play.

If you're looking for a smartwatch that antes up the independence as your child goes from middle to high school, an Apple Watch is a solid investment — one that your kid probably has on their list, anyway. At $169 on sale (which it usually is), the Series 3 isn't that far out of the price realm in which more basic kid-specific watches fall, though it's more robust than most. Kids can call or reply to texts from their wrist, set alarms or timers, check the weather, track their workouts, and a lot more.

Parents can mitigate the threat of distractions (present with any device that's not designed for youngsters) through Family Setup: Apple's watchOS parental controls that can be set through a parent's iPhone. Here, parents can prevent certain apps from being downloaded, watch screen time, or disable the watch during school or bedtime hours.

The Fitbit Ace 3 is more of a fitness or activity tracker with goal setting capabilities than a full-fledged smart watch, which is exactly the level of connectivity some kids need.

But once you add a phone to the mix, it becomes enough of a smartwatch to give kids a head's up that their parents are trying to get in touch. The Fitbit Ace 3 (a step up from its predecessor the Ace 2(opens in a new tab)) has call alerts, parental controls, and Kid View within the Fitbit app. The tracker features challenges, activity tracking, and animated clock faces to get kids motivated to move.

The functions of the Garmin Vívofit Jr. 3 are nearly identical to its predecessor, but its square-shaped face gives it a smartwatch vibe that kids may care about.

That larger, higher-res display makes the Jr. 3 look more like a legit watch than a fitness tracker, setting it apart from the Jr. 2. Both count steps, monitor sleep patterns, and offer timed activities to track movement during playtime or sports practice. The Jr. 3 also introduces a "distance traveled" capability as well as a widget to store emergency contact information.

As kids get in their daily steps, they'll unlock cool interactive experiences that can correspond with the character on their watch, like Black Panther or The Little Mermaid. Parents can also use the app to  assign tasks, schedule alerts, and give their child an opportunity to earn rewards when they meet goals, like finishing homework or doing chores.

Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable with the whole "my preschooler has a smartwatch" thing if a cracked screen wouldn't out you $100. The iTouch PlayZoom is a no-nonsense smartwatch that can act as a trial run or introduction to personal gadgets for your kids.

It might be on the basic side in the grand scheme of connected wearables, but there's a lot of content packed into this device. A few touchscreen games and a camera that swivels to the front and back are sure to keep kids busy. The stopwatch makes for fun challenges or properly-timed teeth brushing, too.

The official age rating is four and over, but reviewers say that kids as young as three had no problem navigating the cartoon icons. The side buttons mimic the intuitive design of the Apple Watch and no Bluetooth or app syncing is required. Aside from needing to be charged way too often, this little watch requires minimal upkeep. (Heads up: Reviews for other iTouch watches are mixed in with reviews for the PlayZoom. The kid version does not count steps or calories, track sleep, or connect to a smartphone.)