Back to Christmas Device Setup Guide
Giving a Child's Smartwatch This Christmas: Apple Watch, Garmin and Xplora Set-Up
Getting a child's Apple Watch, Garmin Bounce 2 or Xplora watch ready before Christmas: Family Setup, subscriptions, contacts and what each watch can do.
A child's smartwatch can make calls and share location without a phone, but some features depend on a mobile plan or subscription, and all of them are managed from a parent's phone. Set that up before you wrap the watch, because it can take longer than you expect. This page covers the gift moment for Apple Watch with Family Setup, the Garmin Bounce 2 and the Xplora watch. For the full controls, follow the links to our smartwatch guides.
Before you wrap it
Apple Watch: Family Setup needs a cellular watch
Family Setup lets a child who has no iPhone use an Apple Watch to make calls, send messages and share their location, with you managing it from your own iPhone. Apple lists Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular, or Apple Watch SE or later with cellular, as eligible. Apple’s Family Setup page gives an iPhone 6s with iOS 14 as the oldest possible starting point, but Apple’s compatibility page says current watches need a newer iPhone: for example, Apple Watch Series 12 needs an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27 or later, and Series 11 and SE 3 need an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later. Check Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch compatibility page for the watch you are buying. Full step-by-step: see our Apple Watch guide.
- Your phone or tablet
- Your account
Apple Watch: accounts first
Both you and the child need an Apple Account, your account must have two-factor authentication turned on, and the child must be in your Family Sharing group with you as its organiser or a parent or guardian. You will need the child’s Apple Account password during setup; our Apple Watch guide covers the steps.
- Your account
Apple Watch: check the mobile plan
Apple says a mobile data plan isn't required to set up an Apple Watch for a family member, but is necessary for some features. Apple calls Family Setup 'Apple Watch For Your Kids' on its UK carrier page, so search for that name. Apple’s UK Family Setup carrier list is on its Apple Watch network providers page; check it before you buy. Apple warns that pay-as-you-go and some older mobile accounts may not be supported.
- Payment method
Garmin Bounce 2: subscription and Garmin Jr.
Garmin says the Bounce 2's LTE features need an active subscription plan plus LTE connectivity. The subscription is set up in the Garmin Jr. app. You need a Garmin Connect account and the Garmin Jr. app, and the watch must be paired through that app rather than your phone's Bluetooth settings.
- Your phone or tablet
- Your account
- Payment method
Xplora: SIM and plan
As of 10 November 2026, Xplora's UK site sells the X6Play for 179 pounds with a pre-installed SIM and a 7.99 pound a month Connect 12 Basic plan on a 12-month contract. Check the contract before you wrap it. Parents manage an Xplora watch in the Xplora Guardian app, which needs iOS 17 or Android 7.0 or newer on your phone.
- Your phone or tablet
- Payment method
What you'll need on the day
Your phone and your accounts
For Apple, your own iPhone and Apple Account. For Garmin, your phone with the Garmin Jr. app and Garmin Connect account. For Xplora, your phone with the Xplora Guardian app.
- Your phone or tablet
- Your account
Erase the watch if it isn't new
Apple says a watch that is not new must be erased before Family Setup.
Your child, to choose contacts together
Apple Family Setup asks for the child's Apple Account password, so have it to hand. Plan to sit down with your child to choose their contacts.
- Your child there
If it's second-hand
Apple Watch: Activation Lock and mobile plans
Apple says that before buying a used Apple Watch from anyone other than Apple or an authorised reseller, check the previous owner has unpaired it, removed Activation Lock and erased it. If you can, test by pairing the used watch with your iPhone: being asked for the previous owner's Apple Account password means Activation Lock is still on. For a used cellular watch, check the previous owner has removed and cancelled any active mobile plans.
Garmin Bounce 2: sync and reset
Garmin says to sync the Bounce 2 with Garmin Jr. before resetting it. Choosing 'Delete Data and Reset Settings' deletes user-entered information and activity history; 'Reset Default Settings' keeps them.
On Christmas Day
Calls and contacts
On an Apple Family Setup watch, you choose the child’s contacts from your own Contacts; our Apple Watch guide covers the setup steps. On the Garmin Bounce 2, Garmin says the built-in speaker and microphone let a child call their parents and send voice messages, and parents can text the watch. Xplora says its watches have no internet access and no unknown contacts. The X6Play includes voice and text messaging, calling and a 5MP camera, so check what is switched on.
Purchases and payments
Apple says Apple Pay with a credit or debit card in the Wallet app is not available on a watch set up with Family Setup. Apple says you can turn on Ask to Buy during setup if you want to approve downloads and purchases made on the watch, but Ask to Buy does not cover every case, so don’t rely on it to stop gift-card or code spending.
- Payment method
School mode and SOS
Xplora's school feature is called School Mode and turns off calls, messages and apps while keeping SOS and the step counter working. On the X6Play, holding the SOS button for five seconds calls the two family members you have set as admins in turn and sends the child's location. Test it with your child before the first day back.
Ages and accounts
Apple Watch Family Setup
On a Family Setup watch, high and low heart rate notifications are for users aged 13 and over, and Fall Detection is for users aged 18 and over.
Quick checklist
Check the plan before you buy
Apple Watch needs a cellular model and a supporting network; Garmin Bounce 2 needs a subscription; Xplora comes with a contract.
Set up the parent app first
Apple uses your iPhone, Garmin uses Garmin Jr., and Xplora uses Xplora Guardian.
Choose the contacts yourself
Decide who your child can call and text before they put it on.
Don't rely on Ask to Buy for gift cards
Keep Apple gift cards and codes until you have set up and tested the watch's account.
Test the school mode and SOS
Try it together before the first school morning.
Related safety topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a child's Apple Watch need an iPhone?
Not for the child. Apple says Family Setup lets a child who has no iPhone use an Apple Watch to make calls, send messages and share their location, with the parent managing it from their own iPhone. It needs a cellular watch, and Apple says a mobile data plan isn't required to set the watch up for a family member but is necessary for some features.
Which UK mobile networks work with Apple Watch Family Setup?
As of 10 November 2026, Apple's UK Family Setup table lists EE and BetterRoaming. Check Apple's page for the current list. Apple warns that pay-as-you-go and some older mobile accounts may not be supported.
Can a Garmin Bounce 2 make calls?
Yes, with a subscription. Garmin's UK site says the Bounce 2 has a built-in speaker and microphone so kids can call their parents and send voice messages. Garmin says the LTE features need an active subscription plan plus LTE connectivity.
Is it safe to buy a used Apple Watch for my child?
Check first. Apple says that before buying a used Apple Watch from anyone other than Apple or an authorised reseller, you should check the previous owner has unpaired it, removed Activation Lock and erased it. Apple adds that being asked for the previous owner's Apple Account password when you pair it means Activation Lock is still on.
Related Resources
External sources
- Set up Apple Watch for a family member — Apple Support (UK)
- Apple Watch and iPhone compatibility — Apple Support (UK)
- Apple Watch network providers — Apple
- What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your Apple Watch, or buy one from someone else — Apple Support (UK)
- Why you should get a smartwatch for your kids — Garmin
- Bounce 2 Watch Owner’s Manual: Pairing the Watch with a Parent’s or Guardian’s Phone — Garmin
- Bounce 2 Watch Owner’s Manual: LTE Connected Features — Garmin
- Bounce 2 Watch Owner’s Manual: Resetting All Default Settings from the Watch — Garmin
- X6Play Kids Smartwatch — Xplora
- Xplora Kids Smartwatch: Safety in your hands — Xplora
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.