Best Fitness Trackers for Kids

Best Fitness Trackers for Kids That They’ll Love as Much as You Do!

It is said that one out of every three kids is overweight or obese.  Aside from that, kids today are also found to be more prone to having some sort of technology addiction, where they spend unhealthy amounts of time on smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets.  The good thing is that both of these problems can be solved by encouraging kids to be more active.

However, as most parents would know, this is easier said than done.  Luckily, there are now fitness trackers that do not only tell you about how active your kids are and how well they are sleeping, but also make exercise and real-life play more fun for them.  These fitness trackers work very much like a Fitbit, but are geared towards the younger market.

If you find it difficult to get your children off the couch or get their faces away from their mobile phones or tablets, consider getting one of these top fitness trackers for kids, that makes fitness both measurable and fun.

Garmin Vivofit Jr

Garmin has been creating fitness trackers that are aimed to make grownups exercise more.  And with Garmin Vivofit Jr, kids will also have the same reminders to stay fit and active.

Garmin Vivofit Jr counts your kids steps, keeps track of their sleep, and reminds them to stay active.  Just like what other Garmin fitness trackers do for adults.  The Vivofit for kids, however, has fun and youthful designs.  The Vivofit Jr also functions as a digital wrist watch and can be used as a task timer and stop watch.  It can make chores  a lot more fun by rewarding your kids with virtual coins.

Garmin recommends one hour of play every single day and they have several activities that the kids can do to unlock levels in an in-app adventure trail.  Meanwhile, parents can see their kids’ progress on the companion mobile app.  Plus, they can even set up friendly competitions between their kids.

What you would like about the Garmin Vivofit Jr

Garmin has certainly put a lot of thought into the Vivofit Jr.  The fitness tracker is meant to be worn constantly and the kids will surely not mind not taking it off because it has a comfortable fit.  The durable silicone band is also stylish and light.

The bands also have colorful and vibrant designs.  Additionally, there is also a simple black design available for those who do not like anything flashy.  What’s more, the kids can also take it swimming because it can withstand water pressure up to a depth of 164 feet.  No worries getting it wet in the rain or in the shower.

The Garmin Vivofit Jr allows parents to assign chores to their kids and set it to repeat daily or weekly.  The kids will see a reminder for them to do their chores.  You can also assign a time frame for these chores so that the Vivofit Jr can remind your kid to finish within a set time.

What do these mean?  You no longer have to nag the kids to do their homework, clean their rooms, take out the trash, and do other chores.  The Vivofit Jr will do all these for you.

It is not limited to chores.  You can set up reminders for them to brush their teeth or take their vitamins.

When the kids finish their chores, they win virtual coins that they can save.  They can then spend these virtual coins to get rewards that you have previously agreed on.  For example, they can get 10 minutes more screen time for 10 virtual coins, or get a real dollar for every 20 virtual coins.  The rewards and how much virtual coins they cost all depend on you.

The Garmin Vivofit Jr also makes exercise fun.  Your kids are given 60-minute activity goals every day.  When they have accomplished that, the companion mobile app unlocks an adventure trail and they can also get fun facts.

Final say on the Garmin Vivofit Jr

The Garmin Vivofit Jr is suitable for kids aged four to nine years old, which means that you would have to find other products for kids older or younger than that.  Other than this, you would be hard-pressed to find something negative to say about this fitness tracker.

It not only encourages your kids to stay active and keep fit, but also reinforces good behavior and competitiveness in a way that is both fun and transparent.

For instance, they can get rewarded for exercising and for doing their chores, and they can learn to work for goals, be it by attaining the daily activity goals or by getting enough coins to redeem a certain reward that they like.

The Garmin Vivofit Jr sells for $70 at the company’s online store.

LeapFrog LeapBand

The LeapFrog LeapBand is an activity tracker from a company that is known for its high-tech educational toys.  It helps you monitor how far your kids have walked and how much sleep they had.  It also encourages kids to develop healthy eating habits, on top of prodding them to play.

The LeapBand allows kids to have a virtual pet, such as a penguin, a dog, a monkey, a cat, or a dragon.  They can choose their pet’s names and colors.  As they move around, they get to earn rewards and unlock new features.  The more they move, the more rewards they get.

Aside from a virtual pet that they can play with, the LeapBand also offers interactive games and challenges, as well as mini games.  This makes kids actually look forward to doing the challenges and staying active.

What you would like about the LeapFrog LeapBand

The LeapFrog LeapBand is great for younger kids who do not know how to read just yet because of its audio instructions.

For kids who are of school age, it has the School and Quiet Time settings, which ensures that they do not get distracted from school work.  It also uses a rechargeable battery, which helps you avoid buying batteries in the long run.  It is also water resistant, and can handle sweat and water splashes.

However, what sets the LeapBand apart from most fitness trackers aimed for children is that it has a 1.4-inch color display.  That means your kids will be able to see their progress even without borrowing your smartphone.

The color screen and design is especially attractive to young children.  The band, meanwhile, measures 2.5 inches by 1.8 inches by 2 inches, making it a lot bigger than most activity trackers.  But even so, it is surprisingly light at less than half a pound.  What’s more, it has an adjustable strap to ensure a comfortable yet snug fit, unlike most fitness bands that you slip on or off.

The audio speaker broadcasts easy-to-follow instructions and is loud enough for them to hear.  It also gives them instant rewards and cheers them on when they accomplish a task.

Plus, the tasks are kid-friendly and fun.  The instructions are something that even younger children can understand, like “Wiggle like a worm” or “Walk like an elephant.”

Final say

Before you buy the LeapFrog LeapBand, you should know that this fitness tracker is ideal for kids four to seven years old.  Plus, younger children who are used to smartphones might find themselves frustrated because the display is not touch screen.  They would have to rely on physical buttons to find their way around and control the device.

LeapFrog also did not include a volume button that could be helpful for kids who are out in public. While there are some parental controls in place, these are rather limited, especially when compared with the reward system and the parent-initiated challenges you find on Garmin Vivofit Jr.

Nevertheless, this is a fun way to teach your kids proper nutrition and how to tell time while ensuring that they stay active.  It also has its own screen so you wouldn’t have to rely on a smartphone to see your kid’s progress.

The best part?  You do not have to spend too much for a LeapFrog LeapBand.  It has a suggested retail price of $29.99 but you can get it at a much lower price at less than $20 from Amazon (For the latest prices and discounts, check here).

Sqord

Sqord, pronounced as “scored,” tracks play time for kids instead of just counting the number of steps they have taken.  Sqord logs every movement the wearer makes and then calculates how many points have been earned.  These points become the basis for the awards given.

What makes Sqord outstanding is that it would take a lot to break it.  As kids are more careless than adults, you can be sure that the Sqord can withstand rough bumps and beatings.  Aside from being kid-proof, it is also waterproof, so you can take it for a swim.

Sqord also has a long battery life.  It runs on a standard watch battery and you will only need to replace it every nine months.

Sqord connects to a mobile app that gives kids an easy way to understand what’s going on.

The mobile app allows kids to create and customize their own characters.  It also allows them to connect with other kids and compete with them.  The Awards is designed to reward a user and even shows how many other users have the same award.

On top of that, your kid would be able to see his or her points earned for the day, the day before, the current week, the entire season, and even for all time.

What you would love about Sqord

Sqord makes fitness and staying active fun for the little ones by turning everything into a game.  The experience is really geared towards kids and is focused on how to use gamification to help them be healthier.

It is proven effective, too, with Sqord reporting that youngsters who use their activity tracker reported increased activity levels by 55%.  Plus, the average Sqord user is able to earn close to 47,000 points a day.  That is equivalent to crossing a football field 88 times or running more than 90 laps around an NBA basketball court.

Final say about Sqord

Sqord is a capable activity tracker that makes exercise and play more fun for kids.  It has a design that is simple yet attractive for the younger set.  It comes in seven colors, including black, white, orange, red and pink.  Plus, it is made to last.  It may not have a display, but with a well-designed mobile app, you definitely would not mind.  Sqord is available for $40 on the company’s online store.Or check out the latest prices on the Sqord here!

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