Are you a proud parent of a kid that canât keep his eyes off your watch collection?Â
Apart from your great taste in timepieces, there might be another, much more profound reason behind this: your child is ready to learn the basic concepts of time. And in the most conspicuous way possible, heâs letting you know!
Many parents have been scratching their heads when trying to find the best watch for toddlers. Thatâs because, up until recently, the choice of preschool watches deemed safe to use for children of 3 years or less was slim, not to say non-existent. On top of the safety issues, the watches that were available werenât really interactive enough for preschoolers â and thatâs probably the most important feature when it comes to wearing a wristwatch at such young age.
Luckily, in the last few years, an industry-changing Preschool Watch Collection has been developed. Particularly with toddlers in mind, these watches are built to interact with your kid and make the process of learning time as quick and as fun as possible. All of this while making sure the safety protocols are fully intact.
In this guide, we will look at the 3 best-selling models from the entire collection. But first, letâs learn what makes them so special.
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Best Watch for Toddlers (Top 3 Overview)
| Product | Theme | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top | Trucks | Boys' Choice | Check Price |
Top | Unicorn | Girls' Choice | Check Price |
Top | Standard | Wall Choice | Check Price |
What Makes These Watches Stand-Outs?
Itâs okay for many watchmaking brands to advertise their bright-colored watches as âideal for toddlersâ. The fact is, none of them actually are.
While browsing for wristwatches for kids in the 1-3 years age group, not even one of them offered anything unique. Most of the time, these were just regular adult watches reduced in size and adorned with every color possible.
What most watch manufacturers donât realize is that such young children have zero clues about time-telling. Theyâve no idea what it means when you say âitâs twelve oâclock, so itâs time for play!â
At this age, the quickest the kid can learn about time is through routines. And Preschool Watch Collection makes the whole task a lot easier.
With this particular collection, the whole process of learning the concept of time is simplified by the use of colors and symbols. For toddlers, thatâs by far the easiest way to categorize and separate items quickly.
The fact that these watches use colors to distinguish clock hours is crucial for kids to grasp the different times of the day. For example, your child will start to notice that you come to pick him up from the nursery or preschool when the small hand arrives at the pink section. Or, he usually hits the bed when itâs pointing to the brown color.
Additionally, all watches and clocks use animals as symbols.
Itâs common knowledge that young children, especially toddlers, learn quicker with symbols and images that ring a bell. And most children absolutely love animals (and vice-versa). Hence, not only will they learn to understand the time faster but also enjoy the whole process.
âItâs time to go to bed when the big hand is on the Teddy Bearâ or âWe will brush your teeth when the big hand points to the Monkeyâ.
Doesnât it just sound like a lot of fun? It does for me as an adult, never mind a 3-year old kid.
By giving children a visual way to see whatâs in a plan for the day, it helps them understand it easily and reduces the need of you repeating yourself all the time. Itâs a win-win, killing two birds with one stone⊠however you want to call it.
Now letâs move on to a brief review of all three watches for your toddler.
Best Watch for Toddlers (Top 3 Reviewed)
Preschool Truck Watch
Opening up the list is a beautiful toddlerâs watch for boys.
The model boasts a truck theme, something gentlemen of this age should greatly appreciate. The watch features a white background dial with 12 different colors separating times of the day. Additionally, there are 12 symbols of pets that further help understand the time and whatâs coming next.Â
Besides being incredibly interactive, the watch is built to withstand a lot. And, knowing the damage capabilities of such young folks, it should be!
The Preschool Truck watch comes with a tiny silicone case, measuring 28mm in diameter and being 8mm thick. The band has a width of 12mm and is made from the very same material. Naturally, itâs hypoallergenic and comes with easy-to-adjust tang buckle closure.
Crucially, the watch is equipped with mineral crystal glass. Itâs one of the most scratch-resistant glass materials out there, often used in tactical watches.
What canât be overlooked in such a budget-friendly watch is the fact that itâs shock and water-resistant. The water-resistance rating sits at 3 ATM / 30m, meaning itâs splashproof. At this age, itâs more than enough.
All the best watches for toddlers from the collection use highly reliable Japanese quartz movement produced by Seiko, one of the well-known names in the watchmaking industry.
Finally, whatâs also well-deserving of a mention is the weight. Weighting mere 17 grams, the watch is one of the lightest models you will find online and for sure, at least at times, your kid will forget heâs even wearing it.
P.S. The watch is also available in a dinosaur theme.
- Truck theme
- 12 colors & pet symbols separating times of the day
- Weights just 17 grams
- Shock and water-resistant (30m)
- Mineral crystal glass
- Accurate Japanese quartz movement
- Hypoallergenic case and band
Preschool Unicorn Watch
If youâve got a little girl instead of a boy, donât worry. The same watch model is available in a variation suitable for young ladies, too.
In contrast to the boyish truck design above, this watch is as girly as they come. The main theme features a unicorn although thereâs also a Kitty variation available.Â
Similar to the model above, the dial of the watch features a white background with a 12-color palette separating different times of the day. It also has the 12 symbols of pets that help distinguish between hours and minutes.
Oh, and donât let the pink color fool you. The watch is just as durable as the model we discussed a moment ago.
Both the watch case and band are made from hypoallergenic silicone. Identical to the Truck version, the case measures 28mm in diameter and the thickness is 8mm. The band uses a standard buckle closure and is 12mm wide. The weight of the watch remains unchanged: and thatâs just 17g.
The same durable type of mineral crystal glass is used in this model, too.
Adding to the durability is the shock and water-resistance. The WR rating is 3 ATM / 30m which makes the model splashproof.
Finally, the watch uses the same type of reliable quartz movement from the Japanese watch mogul â Seiko.
- Unicorn theme
- 12 colors & pet symbols separating times of the day
- Weights just 17 grams
- Shock and water-resistant (30m)
- Mineral crystal glass
- Accurate Japanese quartz movement
- Hypoallergenic case and band
Preschool Wall Clock
On top of the two wristwatches, the company also offers an interactive Wall Clock. This, in my opinion, is an excellent addition that can only make the process of learning even smoother.
The preschool wall clock is available in just one color/design version you see in the image above. Itâs a perfect choice for both boys and girls.
The exact same colors/symbols pattern is kept here. The colors signalize different hours while the pet symbols point to minutes. For easy nighttime reading, all the animal icons glow in the dark.
The metal frame of the clock measures 12 inches in diameter. Protecting the clock face is an acrylic dial window, a fairly standard choice for wall clocks in this price range. For maximum safety, thereâs also a battery cover at the back.Â
The clock is powered by an ultra-silent, non-ticking quartz movement. At that cost, itâs probably as inconspicuous as a wall clock can get.
As a little bonus, the product comes with a cardboard Play Clock and 46 stickers that let your child personalize the dial window (12-hour figures like lunch, bedtime, bath time, etc.).Â
- 12 colors & pet symbols separating times of the day
- Acrylic dial window
- Battery cover
- Super-silent quartz movement
- Glows in the dark
- Comes with free Play Clock and 46 stickers for customization
Picking the Best Toddler's Watch: Buying Guide
Iâm pretty sure that the list of the 3 best watches for toddlers has delivered at least one product that you think your kid will love.
If for whatever reason thatâs not the case, no worries. Below I have prepared a short Buying Guide that will help you find the right watch on your own.
What to look for in watches for toddlers?
There are a few features youâd like to tick off before going ahead with the purchase of the watch.Â
Engaging features
Wristwatches for kids under the age of three canât just be mini-versions of adult timepieces with the addition of some extra colors. First and foremost, they have to provide at least a minimum level of engagement/interactivity. Simple analog or even digital watches wonât do!
The color/symbol combo presented in the Preschool Collection is an excellent benchmark of what to look for. But by no means itâs the only solution on earth. Some other brands specializing in watches for toddlers also equip the models with different sounds that help distinguish between all 12 hours.
Durability
In the ideal world, youâd like to buy a toddlerâs watch that will for a good few years â at least until your kid is ready to wear a regular one.
Little kids break things and you canât control them 24/7, thatâs just the way it is. Thereâs a good chance your child will have an off day and decide to test the endurance of the watch heâs wearing. And trust me, kids can get creative when it comes to this.
When looking for the product on your own, make sure:
a) The dial window isnât plastic-made (unless itâs a wall clock). Acrylic lenses are a common choice among budget brands but they just wonât do. Plastic windows are poor protection against scratches and cracks, especially if itâs a kid that wears the watch. Consider only watches that use mineral or sapphire crystal glass. Both models for toddlers Iâve listed in this article are equipped with the former.
b) The watch uses a hypoallergenic silicone/rubber strap and case. On top of making sure the kid doesnât suffer from any allergies, these materials are also enduring and cleanable. At all costs avoid leather which is a nightmare to clean and easily breakable. Youâd also like to pass on stainless steel which in some cases triggers strong allergic reactions.
c) The watch is water-resistant. When it comes to children this young, a 3ATM / 30m water-resistance rating will do the job. It effectively makes the watch splashproof, allowing the kid to wear it during a shower or when it rains outside.
d) The watch is shock-resistant. This feature goes a long way in helping prevent damage to the movement when your child drops the watch to the floor or, God forbid, hits it against something heavy.
The right appearance
Kids love visuals and have an eye for detail. You should pick a watch that your child will be proud and happy to wear. Consider watches rich in colors and symbols, similar to the models listed in this article.
Also, make sure the watch is neither too big nor too heavy. Cases measuring less than 30mm in diameter are a good benchmark size-wise. Naturally, the less it weighs the better. At times the kid should forget heâs wearing it!
What are other brands that offer kidsâ watches?
As previously mentioned, there still isnât a huge choice of brands offering watches for toddlers.
Nevertheless, if you have children who already understand the basic concepts of time, Casio kidsâ watches look pretty awesome. If youâre shopping on a budget, Timex kidsâ watches should present you with a lot to choose from as well.
What is the best smartwatch for toddlers?
As much as Iâm all in for teaching kids the concept of time from as early as possible, a smart watch for toddlers is probably stretching it a bit.
In my opinion, a 3-year old (or younger) should first grasp the basic understanding of time before latching onto all the additional technological perks a smartwatch comes with. Nevertheless, you can find smartwatches designed for kids aged 3-6 years by clicking here.
At what age should a child wear a watch?
Thereâs no fixed answer to this question. You as a parent should be able to pick up the signals that your kid is ready to wear one.
Just a few years ago, there were basically zero choices as far as watches for toddlers were concerned. Hence, parents usually considered buying a kidâs first watch when he was ready for school.
Nowadays, the number of brands developing watch collections for kids in the 1-3 age group is on the rise. If youâve noticed your kidâs interest in your watch collection or the watch display of the store in your area, feel free to buy him one already.
Do 3-year olds have a concept of time?
This will differ from kid to kid.
For example, most children might understand sequences (he did it first or last) or how long an activity takes (a long or short time). On the other hand, concepts like the past (yesterday) and the future (tomorrow) might be hard to grasp at first. Naturally, the same applies to minutes and hours.
Having a proper toddler watch will definitely help the case.