Children’s smartwatches raise concerns about peer pressure, exclusion

"When children go on outings, they experience things together and share spontaneously. There's little need to re-share those moments later in digital spaces."

Wang is also skeptical about the safety argument for smartwatches, suggesting that schools already provide enough alternatives.

"If children need to contact parents, they can always approach teachers or use school landlines," Wang said.

She said as both an educator and parent, she has chosen not to purchase a smartwatch for her second-grade son after discussing its necessity.

The boy eventually understood that during school hours, when the watch is held by teachers anyway, its utility is limited, she said.

Teacher Xie at a Changsha primary school has adopted a stricter position toward smartwatches, banning them in her classroom.

"There's simply no need for them in our school environment," she said. "We have security systems, landline phones, and teachers with mobile devices. If emergencies arise, children have multiple ways to seek help."

Xie, who has a daughter in third grade and another in junior high, said she has never bought smartwatches for her children, and they've never asked for them because they know her position.

She believes the devices create more problems than they solve. "The screens are too small for children's developing eyesight," Xie said. "The multiple functions lead to distraction, and brand competition fuels unhealthy comparison among students."

Instead, she favors developing children's problem-solving abilities. "Without smartwatches, children learn to seek help from security guards, borrow phones, or find other solutions when needed," she said.