Apple Watch for Kids gets Telstra coverage – finally

When Apple launched the “Family Setup” for Apple Watches over five years ago, I was super excited, but the product had one major drawback – it only worked with one telco, and that was problematic for many. Today, Telstra launches its “Telstra Watch Plan” designed specifically for what’s now known as Apple Watch for kids.

The headline of my review in late 2020 was clear: “APPLE WATCH FAMILY SETUP REVIEW: KIDS LOVE IT, BUT IT NEEDS MORE TELCO CHOICE”. So it took a while, but we got there.

This wasn’t about me not wanting to use the provider that was available – using the Vodafone network – it was more that the school my kids went to at the time was not in a Vodafone coverage area, and thus, the watches would spend every waking moment trying to establish a mobile connection, resulting in an extreme battery drain.

Since then, we have far better battery performance on Apple Watch for a starter, but today, you also have the choice of a Telstra Watch Plan for connectivity.

It’s $20 a month for the Telstra Watch Plan, which is not bad given what it offers a parent. You can give your kids an Apple Watch (hand me down an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or get them a new one – your call) and then during the setup process choose the Telstra plan.

You can then see your kids in the Find My app, plus contact them at any time.

Parents can limit who the kids can contact, and school time mode means they aren’t distracted in class.

I know there are a lot of “kids watches” on the market, but frankly – the simplicity and usability of Apple Watch, paired with the pure desirability too – is hard to challenge.

Telstra’s Chief Marketing Officer and retail executive Jana Kotatko told EFTM “As a mother of three teenage boys, I know what it’s like to be uncertain about the role of technology in our children’s lives – and now we’re making it easier for families to stay connected without needing a smartphone. With a Telstra Watch plan, parents can unlock Apple Watch for Kids features, like being able to call or message contacts they’ve approved, make sure kids don’t get distracted by tech during school-time, and help give parents peace of mind.”

All a bit late for me, as my kids are now all well into their teens and rocking phones of their own, but for parents of primary-aged children, the Apple Watch for Kids setup and mobile plan options are a genuinely great way to give yourself some peace of mind as kids get some independence and begin their journey of connecting to others via the phone or text.

Great news!