Questions? Answers

What is Apple Watch For Your Kids?

Apple Watch For Your Kids is a software feature that lets you use your iPhone to set up an Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) for a child or family member. That means kids who don’t have their own iPhone can easily stay in touch using Apple Watch. Using the Watch and Settings apps on your iPhone, you can manage settings for their Apple Watch, set approved contacts and see their location using the Find My app.

How does it work?

To get started with Apple Watch For Your Kids, you’ll need an Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular. An Apple Account will be used to set up your child or family member’s Apple Watch, which they can create during the setup process. An iPhone is also needed for the initial watch setup and to manage settings on their Apple Watch. Your child does not need their own iPhone - that’s the whole point. Only the parent’s iPhone is needed to set up and manage the watch. Setting up an Apple Watch for a family member will also create a Family Sharing group, if you don’t already have one. Check with your carrier regarding adding a cellular plan.

Which Apple Watch models can support Apple Watch For Your Kids?

We recommend Apple Watch SE 3 with GPS + Cellular, but other cellular-enabled Apple Watch models (Series 4 or later) will work.

Does Apple Watch For Your Kids require a cellular plan?

Yes. Having a cellular service is required to connect your kid’s Apple Watch to a cellular network with its own mobile service plan, so your child can stay connected even without your iPhone nearby. The watch can be used with its own phone number and account.

Which carriers in Canada support the Apple Watch For Your Kids feature?

Bell, Rogers, SaskTel and Telus currently support Apple Watch For Your Kids. Check with your carrier to see if your current iPhone plan is eligible for Apple Watch cellular service. If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, check with your company or carrier to see if they support this feature.

What kind of parental controls are available to manage my kid’s watch?

You can manage settings on your child or family member’s Apple Watch by using the Watch app and Settings on your iPhone. You can also control exactly who can contact your child - approve specific contacts for calls and messages, and block all others, so your child can only be reached by people you trust. Schedule Schooltime, set approved contacts for calls and texts, set limits on purchases and more. And with the Find My app, you can also view your family member’s location, set Location Notifications or locate a lost device.

Will I get an alert if my child leaves a specific area?

Yes. Using the Find My app on the parent iPhone, you can set up Location Notifications that alert you when your child arrives at or leaves a specific location, like school, home, soccer practice or a friend’s house. You can manage these alerts directly from the parent iPhone.

How does Schooltime restrict my child’s Apple Watch?

Schooltime is a setting that restricts notifications and disables the use of all apps on your child’s Apple Watch. You can adjust the schedule for Schooltime in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. When Schooltime is active, the watch face has a yellow circle indicating that access to apps is restricted and Do Not Disturb is turned on. Even when Schooltime is active, your child can always make Emergency SOS calls and contact their designated emergency contacts. Learn more

Are all Apple Watch features and apps available when using Apple Watch For Your Kids?

Apple Watch For Your Kids allows kids to benefit from many communication, safety and wellness features like making calls, sending texts, sharing location, using Emergency SOS, using Siri, tracking Activity Rings and much more. Some features like Apple Pay, Medications, Sleep and ECG require an iPhone and are not available for kids without an iPhone. Learn more

Where can I learn more about setting up an Apple Watch for my child or family member?

Learn more about setting up Apple Watch for a family member.

How do I create an Apple Account for my child?

Instead of sharing an account with your child, which can give them unwanted access to your personal data, create an Apple Account for them. Then you can easily set age-based parental controls, and they can use Family Sharing, Messages, the App Store and other Apple services. Learn more

Can I set up Apple Watch For Your Kids for more than one child?

Yes. You can set up and manage Apple Watch For Your Kids for multiple children from a single parent iPhone. Each child will have their own Apple Account and their own approved contacts, Schooltime, schedule and settings - all managed separately through the Watch app on your iPhone. Family Sharing supports up to five family members, so you can keep the whole family connected from one place.

Can two parents manage the same child’s Apple Watch?

Currently, one parent’s iPhone is used as the primary manager of a child’s Apple Watch. However, both parents can view the child’s location through the Find My app if they are both part of the same Family Sharing group. Full management controls are tied to the account that completed the initial setup.

What is a Family Sharing group, and why do I need one?

Family Sharing makes it easy for you and up to five other family members to share access to music, apps and other subscription purchases, all without sharing an Apple Account.▵Refer to legal disclaimers. You can set up an Apple Account for kids, to set permissions remotely with Screen Time, and approve spending and downloads from a parent’s device with Ask to Buy.▵▵Refer to legal disclaimers. Learn more

Which Apple Watch bands will best fit my child’s wrist?

The Sport Band, Sport Loop and Solo Loop are easy to wear and great for kids with wrists of all sizes. The rubber Sport Band comes in a range of sizes with an innovative pin-and-tuck closure. The Sport Loop is soft, breathable and easy to adjust. And the Solo Loop comes in custom sizes and offers a stretchable design without clasps that is easy to slip on and off.

Does Apple Watch For Your Kids work if my child is away from home or travelling?

As long as your child’s Apple Watch has an active cellular plan, it will work anywhere with cellular coverage - at school, a friend’s house or while travelling domestically. International use depends on your carrier’s roaming plan. Over Wi-Fi, the watch can also stay connected when cellular isn’t available.