Over the past few years, fitness trackers have soared in popularity. They're a handy tool for keeping track of your daily activity as well as other things like sleep quality. No longer just for adults, children's fitness trackers are trending amongst the younger generation and in some cases more (expect to see one on a birthday wish list soon enough!).
These smart and stylish-looking trackers are a great way for (you) and your kids to monitor their activity levels. Easy to set up and use (just strap one on), we can see why some parents may prefer them to smartphones for their kids.
Best children's fitness and activity trackers 2025
The NHS recommends that children and young people should do two types of physical activity each week. Combine this with the fact that research tells us people feel, work and study better when they are active, these high-tech wristbands could be great to have and if used correctly, can encourage healthy habits from a young age.
With so many on the market available in every different shape, colour and size, which ones do you choose? We're here to help by rounding up the best kids' fitness trackers for those busy children on the go.
Best children's fitness tracker for younger kids
AmazonThis stylish looking Fitbit is perfect for younger kids 6 years and above as it comes with animated clock faces which grow and develop as kids move throughout the day. This nifty fitness band also tracks every movement be it hop, skip, jump or cheer. Budding swimmers and those inspired by the likes of Adam Peaty and Rebecca Adlington will love the fact that it's water resistant, perfect for both swimming lessons and much-loved beach holidays. We love the fact that through the parent view app, grown ups are able to monitor their kids’ activity and view their connections. One mum bought it for her 9 year old son, as he needed to move around a bit more and said: "The Fitbit has encouraged him to do as many steps as he can, which otherwise can be a challenge!."
Pros
- Animated clock faces
- All day activity tracking
- Bedtime reminders and alarms
- Water resistant to 50m
- Parents can see their kids’ activity and approve their connections
Cons
- Kids would need their own phone to monitor all of their activities on their own
- Battery only actually lasts around 6 days
- Some reviews say that setting he watch up is a bit of a pain
2.
Mgaolo Kids Smart Watch for Boys Girls, Kids Fitness Tracker Smartwatch
Best affordable children's fitness tracker
AmazonThe great thing about this smartwatch is that you don't need an app to use it. Kids can enjoy the
convenience of safe and hassle-free tracking in simple mode. Of course, if you do use the app there are more features available to you, including a remote camera, message notifications, heart rate monitor and customisable wallpaper. By not using the app, parents can be safe in the knowledge that no data is being captured or tracked. One recent review comments on how reasonable the price was compared to others. "He's absolutely delighted with it and wears it all the time (except school) - even in bed to monitor his sleeping; which seems to have inspired him to go to sleep sooner! He just loves having a watch and telling us his daily step count."
Pros
- Do not need to connect to an APP to use it
- Water resistant
- When paired with a smartphone, you can receive texts and calls
- Six colours to choose from
- Screen bigger than others
Cons
- For 6+ years
- Kids will need a smartphone to access more features
Best all rounder children's fitness tracker
AmazonA popular, trusted and well-recognised brand when it comes to fitness and exercise watches. The vivofit jJr. 3 has all the features you’d want, but also a handful more to make it a bit more kid-friendly. Firstly expect to be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a colour, and the additional features of customising it with their favourite characters is always a good way to win them over! There's activity tracking as well as activity goals, chores, tasks, reminders, rewards (in the form of coins) and more. A lot of buyers commented on how it encourages activity and movement amongst their children with one saying: "My 8 year old loves it. It definitely motivates him to be more active after wearing this watch. Also thanks to the reminders and alarms, he has better time management with his tasks."
Pros
- Swim-friendly and water resistant
- No recharging needed
- One year battery life
- Choose from a variety of colours
- Trusted brand
Cons
- Limited brightness of screen to keep running usage low
- Interactive games means more screen time
Best fitness tracker for teenagers
Argoswww.argos.co.uk
One for the older kids - this fitness band help them stay on top of their health fitness, and sleep. It's just the right amount of cool for teenagers with a slight grown up feel but don't let the simple look put you off. It's packed with features - 24/7 heart monitoring, 20 exercise modes, exercise tracking and a daily sleep report plus, a 10 day battery life. The Inspire is for beginner or who wants something uncomplicated compared to their other more grown up models. This one is marketed more at teenagers (13+) as they will be managing their own account. Nervous? Some parents may not be ready for this, but if you are, make them aware of staying safe online. Most online reviews appear to be written by adults for their own use, but did spot a few who had bought it for their children with one saying: "My my daughter loves it, never takes it off even wears to bath and everything, couldn’t have hoped for a better present. Would highly recommend."
Pros
- Water resistant
- Pairs with a phone so older kids see their app notifications directly
- Soft strap
- Lightweight
- Comes in three colours black, lilac or yellow
Cons
- Not suitable for younger kids
- Lose parental control
Best children's fitness tracker with camera
Argoswww.argos.co.uk
This affordable fitness tracker is a great starting point if you're unsure how much your child will use one. The stylish Series 13 has a host of fantastic features and functions that active kids will love. They can also keep in touch with friends and family with a great range of call alerts, message and social notifications. Of course, they don't need to know this and you can simply turn off the alerts with the Tikkers Time app. For kids on the go, they'll love keeping on top of their activity, with built in step counter, heart rate monitor, sports tracking, GPS connection, weather alerts plus everything else (find your phone, track your sleep, alarm and reminders). Watch their faces light up as they take their own selfies and use them as a wallpaper or screensaver.
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Weather updates
- Selfie camera control
- Larger screen
- Comes with two year guarantee
- Customise watch with a choice of vibrant dials
Cons
- Need to use Tikkers Time app for more features
6.
BIGGERFIVE Vigor 2 L Kids Fitness Tracker
Best children's fitness tracker for tweens
AmazonVery much like the other fitness trackers, but the BIGGERFIVE keeps the motivation high by letting kids earn virtual medals when they reach specific activity goals, making fitness fun, interactive and engaging. There's more than 10 sport modes from running to basketball, soccer to dancing, it's built to keep up with their active lifestyle. The tracker is lightweight and comes with a silicone strap band. Paired with the BIGGERFIVE App, you can explore extra features and detailed activity and health reports. A lot of reviews say this device and connection to the app was a breeze with one recent purchaser saying: "The battery life is impressive, lasting several days on a single charge. It’s easy to recharge, and it holds up well under daily use. The app is simple to use, and I can help my daughter check her progress on a larger screen, which adds to the fun. She’s become more interested in fitness and being active, and the watch has encouraged her to make healthier choices."
Pros
- Two hour recharge
- Colour screen
- Water resistant
- Reviews indicate it is very easy to set up
- Lightweight
- Choice of four colours
- Multiple watch faces
- Ideal for 5-15 year olds
Cons
- Some reviews say the screen has poor resolution
Are fitness trackers safe for kids?
As a gadget they are safe but choosing a fitness tracker for a child depends on their motivations. If their main reason is keeping in touch with friends or fitting in, careful consideration is needed. If your child struggles with positive body image issues, it may not be the best thing to gift them.
For active children, tracking activity can be fun and insightful, provided it doesn't become obsessive. Older kids and teenagers may prefer to use them when they're in charge of their own information. Garmin and Fitbit ensure their products aimed at kids are safe for them as they require parents to approve new connections and write messages.
Out of all the devices we've listed above, only the Fitbit Inspire offer children complete control as it's designed for 13 years and above.
How do kids’ fitness trackers work?
There's not a big difference between kids fitness trackers and the way adults ones work. The trackers senses continuous movements on a 3 axis accelerometer. Data is recorded while it is worn and can sense if the wearer is walking, standing or running.
Adults fitness trackers track calories but kids’ fitness trackers don't (good to know!). One thing they do focus on is how many hours sleep children get - although we read in some reviews, parents questioned if the data they saw on the trackers was accurate.
Data appears the activity screen and smartphone (if it's connected to one). One big difference we noted was that some of the kids' fitness trackers offered 'rewards' in the form of coins or medals when goals were hit. Most fitness trackers had child-friendly straps and a selection of colourful screensavers or wallpapers to pick and choose from.
Can fitness trackers track location?
Some fitness trackers for kids do and some don't, specifically because they are for kids. Some rely on a connected smartphone's GPS capabilities to track location. If in doubt, check directly with the manufacturer.
Are Fitbit watches safe for kids?
The 'Fitbit Ace' is specifically designed for children aged 6 and up. It comes with features tailored to encourage healthy activity while allowing parents to control and monitor usage and privacy control through parental controls on the app. It's best for grown ups to think carefully whether their child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of a fitness tracker.
Keya Modessa, is our Senior Digital Writer and brings over a decade of experience from the digital realm to Mother&Baby. As a mother of two, Keya understands the joys and challenges of modern parenthood and uses her own experience, to give practical advice. Keya has worked across national publications including glossy women's mags, Food and Travel, and more recently as digital lead for Muddy Stilettos.