Yes, you can absolutely get your child an Apple Watch even if they don't have their own iPhone. This is made possible through Apple's Family Setup feature.
How Family Setup Works for Kids
Family Setup allows a parent or guardian to set up a cellular-enabled Apple Watch for a child or another family member who does not have their own iPhone. The parent's iPhone is used to manage the child's watch, enabling features like calls, messages, and location tracking directly from the watch.
Key Aspects of Family Setup:
- Independence for the Child: The Apple Watch, once set up with a cellular plan, can make and receive calls, send messages, and even share location independently, without needing an iPhone nearby.
- Parental Control: Parents maintain control over contacts, screen time, school time, and app permissions directly from their own iPhone.
- Safety Features: Critical features like Emergency SOS are available on the child's watch, providing peace of mind.
- Communication Hub: The watch becomes a communication device for the child, allowing them to stay in touch with approved contacts.
What You Need to Set Up an Apple Watch for Your Kid:
To utilize Family Setup, you'll need a few specific items and configurations:
- Your iPhone: You must have an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or later.
- The Child's Apple Watch: The watch you purchase for your child must be a cellular model (Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 4 or later) and be running watchOS 7 or later. GPS-only models cannot be set up with Family Setup.
- Family Sharing: You must be the family organizer or a parent/guardian within your Apple Family Sharing group. This structure is essential for managing the watch and its settings.
- A Cellular Plan: The child's Apple Watch will require its own cellular plan. This is typically an add-on to your existing mobile service plan, providing the watch with its own phone number.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Parent's Device | iPhone 6s or later (iOS 14+) |
| Child's Watch | Cellular-enabled Apple Watch (SE, Series 4+), watchOS 7+ |
| Account Setup | Parent as Family Sharing organizer/guardian |
| Connectivity | Dedicated cellular plan for the watch |
By meeting these requirements, you can provide your child with an Apple Watch that offers communication, safety, and independence, all while being managed conveniently from your own iPhone.
For more detailed steps on setting up Family Setup, you can refer to Apple's official support documentation.
