Samsung Galaxy Watch can now be customized for kids who dont yet have smartphones

Samsung Unpacked 2025 is bringing us a lot of exciting new products, but what about parents who might not be ready to give their kids their first smartphone? The answer lies in the Galaxy Watch for Kids setup, which allows parents to share the smartwatch experience with their kids without worrying.

• IoT smartwatches could put children at risk

Now you can program your Galaxy Watch to stay connected to your child

Announced in conjunction with Samsung Unpacked 2025, Google and Samsung have unveiled what they're calling a Galaxy Watch for Kids "experience." As reported by Google's The Keyword, parents will now be able to set up the Galaxy Watch with "protective fences" for kids who may not be old enough to use a smartphone — or even the full functionality of a smartwatch. That way, you can let kids "use a mobile-enabled smartwatch responsibly to build positive digital habits . "

To be clear, this isn’t the release of a new, separate smartwatch like the kid-friendly Fitbit Ace LTE; instead, this is a way to customize your Galaxy Watch specifically for kids. This setup is only compatible with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch7 LTE, and you can adjust it using the Family Link app. The app manages watch settings, allowing you to manage basic rules for your family.

Note : Your Galaxy Watch7 LTE must be running the latest Wear OS and paired with a Galaxy smartphone running One UI 5.1 or later. With Samsung announcing the launch of One UI 7 today, most Galaxy users should be able to meet the minimum requirements for the operating system without any issues.

What will the Galaxy Watch Kids experience include?

According to Google, the Family Link app makes it easy for parents to customize the Galaxy Watch for their kids. Here are the features you can customize:

In the approved apps list, you can consider some of the 20 new watch faces and interactive apps that Google just pulled, available on Google Play. According to Google, apps with the “Teacher Approved” badge have been reviewed by educators and rated for “age-appropriateness, quality of experience, richness, and fun. ”

Some examples of Teacher Approved certified interactive apps you can add to your child's watch include Marvel HQ: Super Hero Fun and Barbie™ Color Creations, which offer fun rhythm and color projects, respectively.

There’s no doubt that our tech-heavy culture has both positive and negative impacts on children. Smart tech like phones and watches can help families feel safer with location tracking, while also opening the door to the vast and chaotic internet. It’s easy to see why a well-managed smartwatch can be a blessing in disguise for many parents.

Plus, the fact that Samsung has figured out how to tweak existing hardware means less e-waste and less cost to consumers. Instead of buying a product specifically for kids and having to replace it later, you can buy a Galaxy Watch for the long haul—assuming the hardware actually lasts for years to come.