How to set up your kids’ Apple Watch (2026)

Unpairing should erase all content and settings on your watch, but in my case, it didn’t. If that doesn’t work for you either, click Settings On the hour then general > Reset > Erase all content and settings.

At this point, you can have your child wear it (if it is charged). The clock will tell Bring your iPhone close to your Apple Watch. If you open the Watch app, it lets you choose that Prepared for a family member. Point your phone’s camera lens at the slow-moving animation to pair or select Pair manually.

Apple’s tutorial is pretty straightforward from this point. I chose a passcode that was easy for my daughter to remember and chose it from my family’s list. Cell service continued. Then you set up all the usual Apple Watch features and services, including… Ask to purchase So you couldn’t buy anything from the App Store without my permission, Messagesand Emergency SOS.

I also chose to limit my daughter’s communications to the watch. First, go to Settings > iCloud > communication on your phone and make sure it is turned on. Then click Back to Settings > Screen time > Family member > Communications limits. You must ask and approve your child’s permission to manage their contacts through the child watch. On their watch, you can add and rename contacts from your contact list (Dad becomes “Grandpa,” Tim becomes “Uncle Timmy,” and so on).

The last step is operation Study timewhich is essentially a remote-controlled version of the Work Focus program for adults. It blocks apps and complications, but emergency calls can still be received. The setup tutorial walks you through how to set up Schooltime on your child’s watch, but if you skip it during setup, you can manage it later. On your iPhone, tap All watches > Your child’s watch > Study time > Edit the schedule.

I’ve chosen to turn Schooltime on when my child is in school and turn it off during after-school care, but you can also click Add time If you want to play it during the morning class, take a break for lunch, then start it again. Your child can just turn the Digital Crown to exit School Time, but that’s okay — you can check their School Time reports on your iPhone, too.

To manage your child’s clock, go to He watches > All watches > Family hours > Your child’s Apple Watch. This is how you install updates and manage settings. For more settings you can turn on or off, see Apple’s full list here. For example, you can check health details, set up a medical ID, or even edit smart replies.

Fun for everyone

Just like with the adult Apple Watch, the first thing you might want to do is switch the watch face. Press and hold the screen and wait for the face to shrink, then swipe to switch. (You may also want to purchase a small watch band specifically for children.)

We got my daughter an Apple Watch, so I can see her on Find My, and she can contact me by phone or Messages app, which she does with unfortunate frequency.