Readers' Choice Awards

Scary Mommy 2026 Readers' Choice Awards Best Kid-Safe Wearable Tech Brands

Cause the kids need to be alright.

by Margaret Flatley

Look, we get it: Introducing technology to your kids can be scary. You want them to gain independence, but you want them to interact with the internet safely. Lots of parents just like you start with wearable tech watches that a) are harder to lose and b) serve as a great first step for your little one.

Scary Mommy’s readers have spoken! Congratulations to our 2026 top Kid-Safe Wearable Tech Brands!

1. TickTalk

What Scary Mommy readers love about TickTalk:

  • ❤️ being able to FaceTime my kiddo when he’s away! Plus, it automatically blacklists unknown numbers so strangers and spam calls never get through.
  • The real-time GPS tracking gives me total peace of mind while letting my daughter play down the street without me hovering constantly.
  • All the connection of a smartphone with zero social media junk! It’s super sturdy, and School Mode keeps my son focused in class.

2. Verizon

What Scary Mommy readers love about Verizon:

  • Great quality. The battery actually lasts through a full school day! Plus, only approved family members can text or ring my 9-year-old.
  • Having it on our existing Verizon bill makes life so easy! I can video chat with my child without buying a whole device.
  • As a mom, the boundary and watch-removal notifications are pure genius! I get pinged the second my kid wanders off or takes it off.

3. Bark

What Scary Mommy readers love about Bark:

  • I love that Bark alerts me about bullying or bad searches without making me read every single private text my kid sends!
  • It’s a locked-down Samsung watch, so it looks like a real smartwatch—not a cheap plastic toy. Plus, my kids can't hack it!
  • Parenting in this digital age is wild, but Bark gives my 8-year-old real freedom without leaving me completely in the dark! 🙌

6. Gabb

Photos courtesy of Apple, Bark, Gabb, Garmin, littlebird, myFirst, Samsung, TickTalk, T-mobile

Have questions? Read the official Readers' Choice rules.