Samsung introduces a kid-friendly mode on the Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung has shared updates about its wearable devices ahead of its upcoming Unpacked event. Starting today, parents will be able to use the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 with cellular connectivity as a smartwatch for their children. This new mode, called Galaxy Watch for Kids, allows children to make calls and send messages to trusted contacts while giving parents the ability to track their children's location via GPS.

This feature will be enabled on networks such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and the best part is that no additional smartphone is required for it to work. Similar to Apple's Family Setup system, parents will be able to use their phones to pair and set up the watch before establishing certain restrictions through the Google Family Link app. This will allow them to manage which apps can be downloaded on the device, locate lost watches, and define the contacts that children can message or call.

In case of an emergency, kids will be able to access the SOS features by pressing the side button five times. Like other smartwatches for kids, this one also has a mode called School Time, which restricts certain features during school hours. In a statement from Google, it was mentioned that children will be able to download up to 20 "teacher-approved" apps and watch faces available in the kids' section of the Google Play Store, including themes like Barbie, Marvel, and Rubik's Cube, as well as educational games from PBS Kids and Crayola. Other third-party apps will be available but will require parental approval.

It's important to note that Samsung is not innovating in this aspect but rather catching up. Apple was the first to launch Apple Watch For Your Kids (previously known as Family Setup) for its watches in 2020, and last year, Google released the Fitbit Ace LTE, an updated GPS tracker for kids that incorporates hardware from the Pixel Watch and focuses on educational games. This functionality has been requested by parents in subreddits and Samsung customer service forums. Previously, it was possible to use Galaxy Watches as standalone devices with cellular service for children, although it required parents to have a higher level of technical knowledge to manage location tracking, phone setup, and parental controls. With this new mode, the aim is to simplify everything into a more accessible format, although it is currently only available on the Watch 7. Samsung has been consulted about the possibility of introducing this feature in the LTE version of the Galaxy Watch FE, but no response has been received yet.