I hope our young children/grandchildren never face stranger danger. Just in case they do, there’s the WatchMeGo. It’s a kids’ first watch with a built-in real-time GPS locator and an SOS button that alerts you when your little ones are in danger or distress. I’m not getting paid to say it, but say it I will: right answer . . .
Using the kidome phone app, you can monitor multiple watch wearing sprogs. It displays their 10-20 on a Google map. At the same time, your progeny can monitor your location through the same app (assuming they have a phone). As you’d expect from a watch made for Sprint, the app has a child-friendly voice and texting function. And some simple non-violent games.
If your kids move outside a predetermined “safety area” (set by you), the app gives you a heads up. The WatchMeGo is powered by a 400mAh battery. Yup, it needs nightly recharging. Meghan the Sprint rep assures me a full refill takes about an hour.
The WatchMeGo is . . . wait for it . . . a watch. Three hands and hour indices. At the moment, you can buy it in any color as long as it’s blue. Be aware: it’s BIG. [Nowhere near as enormous as the Fennec Watch One.]
The WatchMeGo’s 48mm diameter is good news for legibility (also suitable for partially sighted adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease). But the jumbo timekeeper could be a bit awkward for play. Which might lead to its removal.
Meghan swears the plastic fantastic timepiece is comfy on her kid and “doesn’t look that big at all on the wrist. I think they have designed that way because the child looks cool with something fancy and funky.” I’d like to see how the WatchMeGo fares in the Texas heat.
The Sprint WatchMeGo costs $144 plus tax. It requires a Sprint phone line to function. That’ll run you $10 a month, tax included. Until chipping your child becomes socially acceptable (or government mandated), this watchphone is the best way to keep tabs on them. And start them on their watch owning journey with a proper watch.
Hmmm. My 9 year old possesses a battered Casio F91 and a growing sense of situational awareness. We talk about what to look for in busy parking lots, staying close with friends when walking, keeping your head moving in crowded areas, locking doors when inside, and not being afraid to GTFO if a situation or person makes you uncomfortable.
I’ve also tried getting him to watch a few of the non-lethal Active Self Protection videos to talk through how other people successfully (or unsuccessfully) avoided entirely or got away from dangerous situations.
This additional ‘smart device’ would seem to breed complacency as no battery-powered magic safety button will work when absolutely needed. I’d be worried that it would provide a false sense of security that – absent a Presidential – level Secret Service detail – doesn’t exist in real life.
Just the other night, we had to make a stop at a Wal-Mart, which was far from optimal. We drove around the lot to check things out and noticed someone appeared to be either begging or hassling people walking to their cars. We parked on the opposite side of the lot to avoid contact, went in to get our things, and took some time to see what was going on in the lot before walking back to the car. I’m not sure how a safety watch with GPS emergency message capability would have helped if we got mugged.
It surely won’t help in all situations. As a gun owner who carries, I’m aware that situational awareness is the most important aspect of personal safety – at any age. The WatchMeGo isn’t “the” answer to children’s safety. It’s just another layer of protection. And a cool way to start a child on the way to watch ownership.
I’m learning how to carry now and have attended some good training classes, but don’t yet think I’m proficient enough. I usually do (and did last night) have good OC spray on me. I also am considering adding a CZ P-01 to the collection, but that’s for another blog.
A really powerful (I.e. blinding flashlight is a better carry than OC spray (especially if you carry a Gun). Also very useful on a day to day basis. And it charges your watch’s lume before bed!
I’ve got one of those as well, for both reasons!
A kid’s watch is pretty amusing since some can’t even read analog time or they have way too much screen time already. (my Phd sister can’t read an analog watch, it makes for a great party laugh). But I seriously don’t understand watches and I’ve been a watch buyer as well. Unless you’re in the field, a watch might matter, but not in today’s world.
I actually use a watch at my job…constantly. Essentially I’m running in and out timestamps, but there’s more going on than that and when it gets busy individual minutes matter, not just approximations or checking desk computer.
All my kids have watches because they wanted them. The oldest never takes his off and the rest wear them a lot. Even my three year old saw a watch that caught his eye in the store, and brought up the exact same watch a couple weeks later when we were back. So he picked it and we got it for him and he wears it a lot, because he wants to wear it and asks.
So these aren’t kids watches though, they all picked out adult watches. Just Armitrons and Casios, cheaper Walmart fare. But kids watches lean deep into novelty kitsch, and it seems that without exception they are ~made badly.~ For the price of what you could spend on a solid little Casio you can get a plastic monstrosity with no water resistance that will break lugs and bezels at the first knock but at least it’s got Wonder Woman’s logo on it!
I mean c’mon these are kids, they’re going to run and play and knock the shit out of anything that goes on their wrist. I remember burning through several cheaper watches because – oops, there’s a corner. And I was a generally careful kid! Mine are really not!
On top of that, even the best kids are very forgetful. When something gets set down, both it and any history of it all become memory holed. My kids basically either have their watches on permanently or they forget where they put them, even in completely obvious places like their dressers.
So if a kid has a watch that is a. Festooned with screen and therefore fragility, and II. Required to charge it daily and therefore take it off and set it down… Look, my kids are generally incapable of keeping track and charge of their iPods and they actively ~want~ to use those. Kid smartwatch seems like a great idea until it sees some hard reality, just like everything else Seen On TV.
P.S.: 48mm?! 400mah?! Nice job not trying.