So, yeah… my 12-year-old still doesn’t have a mobile phone. And I know for some families, that probably sounds late. But for us, it’s been a very intentional choice.
She’s homeschooled, spends most of her time with family, and we work hard to keep screens and devices limited in our home. Of course, this isn’t meant to judge any other family or pretend there’s one RIGHT answer to this whole mobile phone thing. Every family is different, and every child is different. For us, though, slow and steady has felt best.
That said… summer is coming. And for my youngest especially, it means Vacation Bible School, camps, outings with friends, splash days, trips to the mall, bike rides, and a little more independence than usual. So when I had the opportunity to try the TickTalk 5 smartwatch, I was curious to see whether it might be a good middle-ground option before eventually moving to a phone.
After testing it out, I can definitely see the appeal, especially for younger kids and certain family situations, even though I don’t think it’s ultimately the best long-term fit for my particular 12-year-old.
What I Like About the Concept
One of the biggest things I appreciate about the TickTalk is that kids can stay connected without carrying around a full smartphone.
The watch allows children to:
- Call parent-approved contacts
- Send voice messages, dictated texts, emojis, GIFs, and photos
- Share GPS location
- Stay connected during outings and activities
…all while avoiding social media apps, unrestricted internet browsing, and a lot of the distractions that come with smartphones.
As a parent, I completely understand why this feels like a comfortable stepping stone for many families.
I also really like that it’s wearable. Younger kids especially don’t always keep up with devices, and I can absolutely see the benefit of having communication literally attached to their wrist instead of tossed into a backpack or left somewhere at camp.
Who I Think the TickTalk 5 Is BEST For
After trying it out, I actually think the TickTalk makes the most sense for:
- Elementary-aged children
- Kids who split time between parents’ homes
- Summer camps and church activities
- Kids beginning to gain independence
- Families who want GPS tracking without giving a full phone
I noticed the company often markets the watch toward children who go back and forth between mom’s house and dad’s house, and I actually think that’s a really smart use for it. The GPS tracking alone would bring a lot of peace of mind for many families, and because it’s a watch, there’s less risk of kids forgetting it somewhere.
I don't know that this would be a watch that I would want my child to wear full time everyday, but I think it would be incredibly helpful for:
- Summer camps
- The mall
- Church events
- Neighborhood adventures
- Outings with grandparents or family friends
A Few More Details
The biggest thing for me is that the watch is a little bulky.
I know some reviewers say otherwise, but on my daughter’s wrist, it definitely felt more like a mini phone strapped to her arm than a regular watch. At 12 years old, she’s also right on that edge where she’s becoming more aware of what feels “cool” and what doesn’t. The watch is more than half an inch thick, so it's on par with some of the other robust kid-friendly "play" watches (which I realize are a big hit for some families).
For my daughter specifically, I honestly think a very basic phone without all the “smart” features will probably make more sense moving forward. For scale, here's a photo of hte watch adjacent a 175-page chapter book:
But if I had younger kids — especially elementary age — I think this would’ve been a keeper.
I also realized that the speakerphone-style communication may work better for younger kids than tweens. Since voice and video calls happen through the watch itself, conversations aren’t especially private in public spaces. (But I don’t think the watch is intended for long conversations anyway. It’s more for quick check-ins, coordination, safety, and staying connected on the go.)
And while there’s no full keyboard for texting, the watch does support:
- Talk-to-text
- Voice recordings
- Preset responses
- Custom parent-created messages
Once I understood the purpose better, that limitation actually made sense to me.
My Favorite Features of the TickTalk 5
A few features I absolutely love about this watch are the GPS location tracking, built-in step tracker (my family loves step challenges!), water resistance for splash days and summer activities, and the variety of customizable home screens that can make it feel more grown-up and less toy-like.
The TickTalk 5 is also COPPA-certified and intentionally designed for children, which feels very different from simply handing a child a regular smartphone.
Pricing & Plans
The TickTalk 5 retails for around $159.99, and service plans start around $9.99/month through AT&T, with higher-tier unlimited options available. There’s no activation fee or contract required.
My Overall Thoughts
Even though I don’t think the TickTalk is ultimately the perfect fit for my 12-year-old, I still walked away understanding why so many families love it.
For younger children especially, I think this fills a really valuable gap between “no device at all” and “full smartphone access.” It gives kids some freedom and independence while still allowing parents to stay connected, and that's what many families are looking for right now.
The TickTalk 5 is available for purchase on myticktalk.com,Amazon (affiliate link), and Walmart.
My review item came with a cute (OPTIONAL) orange charging dock which is sold separately.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
