Analog or digital? Are multi-function watches suitable? Easy-to-use watches, and watches to help teach children how to tell time.
Cheap and accurate quartz kids' watches are available from $10 to over $20. Brands include Timex, Casio and Swatch (Flik Flak).
Choosing a watch for a boy or girl means deciding between an easy-to-read digital, an educational analog, and even a multi-function digital wristwatch. "jam tangan" This article looks at the features to consider for all types of watches, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Some of the information is based on user reviews of kids' watches on the Amazon.com website.
How to Choose a Watch for a Child "jam tangan"
The watch should be cheap because chances are high that it's going to be lost, broken or badly scratched within a year.
Whether analog or digital, the following considerations hold true:
•Waterproofing is essential because the watch can get wet while washing hands. It also means that the child doesn't need to remember to remove the watch before bathing.
•A mineral glass watch face doesn't scratch as easily as plastic, though danger from broken glass is a minor concern. The glass should be recessed below the watch rim to protect it from damage. Any kind of "watch protector" covering should be used if available. "jam tangan" Even clear sticky tape can be used (this won't sound so ridiculous after seeing a new watch get badly scratched up within a week).
•Backlight illumination is available for both analog and digital watches. They add to the fun factor and allow the child to wear the watch to bed and read the watch "jam tangan" any time they wake up. However, less responsible kids will quickly run down the battery through over-use.
•The strap should be simple enough for the child to use without help. Fabric Velcro and elastic straps are popular, despite their relatively low durability. "jam tangan" Elastic straps usually have an adjustable buckle that only needs to be set once, though tightening might be required as the elastic weakens over time.
Digital Kids' Watches
There are two main types of digital watches for kids: simple time-only watches, and multi-function (timer, stopwatch, alarm) watches.
Time-only digital watches are suitable for younger children. There's only a single display. Superhero and other themed watches are usually of this type. "jam tangan" No confusing buttons or modes. Many only display hours and minutes, and leave out seconds.
Multi-function watches are suitable for older children:
•A countdown timer is useful for timing rest, play and study periods.
•A daily alarm can be set to remind the child to come home from play. The child should be mature enough to not set the alarm to go off at inappropriate times (late at night, school).
•A stopwatch can be used to time games, races, car rides or science experiments.
•A 24-hour display ("military time") is a useful, educational, option.
Analog Kids' Watches
Analog watches are educational, teaching children how to tell time on a standard 12-hour clock face. They also give them a better sense of time by helping them to visualize the hours in a day, the hours to "jam tangan" complete a task (study, play) or to an appointment (TV show, bed time, dinner, trip to the mall).
A second hand that ticks once every second, teaches the duration of one second.
At the minimum, the watch face should show all twelve hours (1 to 12). A second scale to show numbered minutes (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55) is an additional benefit. Some watches number the minutes symmetrically (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5) in order to show "minutes past" for 0 to 30 minutes, and "minutes to" for 30 to 60 minutes. "jam tangan" However a straight 0 to 55 minutes scale is less confusing.
More explicitly "educational" watches (such as the Timex and Disney Time Teacher models, or the Swatch Flik Flaks) have hands in different colors. Some have "hour" and "minute" printed on the hands.
The Best Kids' Watch
Choosing the right watch requires understanding the interests and maturity of the child. "jam tangan" Watch manufacturers sometimes provide age ratings for watches but this is only a guideline. One factor to consider is that the child might prefer a watch that looks just like mummy's or daddy's sports watch or dive watch.
Even with today's sophisticated video games and PCs, "jam tangan" children are still captivated by their own little gadget that they can wear and have with them the whole day. It teaches them time awareness and scheduling, at their own pace and in a fun way. Not bad for a $20 toy.
