The best fitness tracks for kids in 2024 (UK)

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for a UK audience.

Nothing makes you feel more drained than watching children in a frenzy. Indeed, children have the kind of energy that most adults can only dream of. Most of the time they spend the whole day just running around, well, because. It’s exhausting to think about, don’t forget to watch them charge across the universe with unlimited energy.

For that reason, you may not think that children need to track their activities, but in this growing society, it is important to make physical activity a priority from an early age. For the sake of their future health and resilience, it is important that young ones do not lose that powerful spark. This is where fitness trackers come in.

Fortunately, there are a number of fitness trackers made specifically for kids. They focus on promoting an active lifestyle (rather than weight loss, which is unhealthy for kids to obsess over). Trackers can also create good habits, such as keeping up with homework and chores. If you’re still not sure, check out the information below — along with a number of the best trackers for kids right now.

What is a fitness tracker for kids?

Fitness trackers for kids are simplified versions of adult models. They often trade in advanced metrics like an ECG app for incentive games and rewards. They are a cheap, easy, long-lasting option. The band size is also matched to small wrists, of course, with kid-friendly designs and fun colors.

Fitness trackers for kids are all about setting goals — fitness or otherwise. Many offer parents the opportunity to set daily reminders for their children to do things like brush their teeth, finish their homework, or clean their rooms. Mundane activities are more fun when combined into a game model, tiered prizes, and maybe a little leaderboard competition between siblings.

Can kids use an adult fitness tracker?

Older kids are ready to graduate to an adult fitness tracker — they’ll probably have a phone by then, anyway — but full smartwatch functionality may not be right for kids. Fitness trackers for adults in smartwatch form, such as Fitbit Sense, can access payment apps or social media apps. Some parents may choose not to have that option at all.

Do fitness trackers for kids have GPS?

We’d be remiss not to mention that most fitness trackers for kids (even the leaders from Fitbit and Garmin) can’t be used as a stand-alone device to track a child’s location. If the peace of mind that comes with built-in GPS is important to you, choose a kid-friendly smartwatch with GPS (featured below) or an affordable Fitbit.

Are fitness trackers safe for children?

The companies behind the best kids’ fitness trackers — the likes of Garmin and Fitbit — have both revealed that their activity trackers put parents in control of approving any friend requests for fitness-based challenges. Parents can access these items through the accompanying app. The wearer’s location has also never been shared.

What features do fitness trackers for kids have?

The basic functions of a fitness tracker are good across the board: Counting steps, tracking active minutes, and distance traveled are great, and heart rate monitoring is very common. With those confirmed, there are a few other features to compare to your must-have list. Consider how long the battery life lasts. Will your child remember to charge the tracker regularly?

Sleep tracking is another potentially important metric. The quality of the shut eye is important to their physical strength and attention, behavior, memory, and learning abilities. Water resistance is also important between spills, splashes, rain, and sweat.

What is the best fitness tracker for kids?

We’ve checked out everything available from the biggest brands in the fitness tracker game, and listed a selection of the standout devices.

These are the best fitness trackers for kids in 2024.