What is Apple Watch for kids?

Apple just announced an Apple ‘Watch for Kids’ feature that aims to extend the suite of health and safety features to kids, or family members that don’t own an iPhone. The feature will first be available to Apple Watch SE, and the brand plans to roll it out to Apple Watch Series 4 users as well.

According to Apple, the move will allow parents to remain connected with their children, without compromising on their independence.

What is the Apple Watch for Kids feature?

Apple Watch is best known for its suite of health, safety and fitness features; however, only users with an iPhone are able to make the most of them. With Apple’s Watch for Kids, the brand has ensured these features for parents who don’t want their children to own an iPhone just yet.

The feature can be set up on the parent’s iPhone and it will allow the child to text or call them using their smartwatch. It will enable the parents to keep track of the child’s location and Apple also ensures that all the personal data stays end-to-end encrypted.

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Apart from this, parents will also be able to approve contacts, ensuring the children can only communicate with those known to the family. However, Apple mentions how Watch for Kids can also be benefitted by the family, and it will ensure features like Emergency SOS, Maps, Siri, Alarms, and the App Store without losing out on independence.

When will Apple's Watch for Kids feature be available to everyone?

Parents will be able to set up the Apple Watch for their children using their iPhone and a separate cellular plan. The Apple Watch for Kids feature is available on the cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 4 or later, as well as the Apple Watch SE.

However, it is crucial to note that users require a compatible iPhone for the initial setup process. Apple mentions how parents can own an iPhone 6s or higher for the feature to work. Apart from this, users also require an activated wireless service plan from a supported carrier. That said, currently Jio is the only provider available.