Which children's watch is suitable for what age?

From the age of about three, when a child begins to grasp the concept of time, a simple, colorful analog watch with large numbers is ideal for getting them used to telling time through play. From around age six, when children start learning to tell time at school, a clear analog watch is the best choice. By the age of about eight, a digital watch becomes another option.
But which watch is best suited for your child? In this blog post, we answer the most frequently asked questions about children's watches.

At what age do children learn to tell time?

Most children learn to tell time around the age of six, practicing with an analog clock with hands for hours, minutes, and seconds. Around the age of eight, children learn to read the time on a digital clock.

Practicing at home after school works perfectly with your own children's watch, and of course, it looks really cool to have a watch of your own!

When is my child ready for their own watch?

When your child is ready for their first watch depends, of course, on the child themselves. You might notice signs such as them frequently asking what time it is or how much longer something will take, or beginning to understand the difference between morning, afternoon, and evening and associating these times with set routines like bedtime or mealtime. If your child can already tell the time a little before starting primary school, you could start with a simple children's watch featuring two hands. Flik Flak’s "Story Time 3+" watches are perfect for this age group. Additionally, the Flik Flak website offers a variety of fun games and animations to help children learn how to tell the time.

Which watch is suitable for my child?

Just like watches for adults, there is a wide variety of children's watches to choose from. For a first watch, a clear analog dial with two hands is the best choice. Once your child is a little older and can also tell time using a digital display, a digital watch or a simple smartwatch becomes an option as well.

Ages 3 to 5 (practicing with a learning watch)

For many children in the 3–5 age group, a watch is more of a toy that helps them get used to hands and numbers, as they do not yet have a real sense of time. A children's watch in cheerful colors featuring fun images of animals, real or imaginary, is often perfectly adequate. Lorus ( part of Seiko) and Flik Flak offer a wide range of fun, high-quality watches for younger children.

Ages 6 to 8 (learning to tell time independently and keep to a schedule)

From the age of about six, when children are truly learning to tell time and, for instance, playing outside, having their own watch becomes more important. You can use this as an opportunity to practice things like coming home on time for dinner. A clear watch face is essential. You can find watches of this type in collections such as Flik Flak (Powertime 7+), Calypso Kids, and Lorus.

8 to 11 years old (developing personal taste)

From around the age of 8, children begin to develop their own personal taste. The style of the watch becomes more important and less ‘childish’. That is why collections from brands like Garonne Kids, Lacoste, and Timex include watches featuring more ‘grown-up’ themes, such as football, cars, and superheroes, as well as ‘cool’ digital watches.
The distinction between watches for boys and girls also becomes more significant at this age.
By the time they are around 10, most children have outgrown standard children's watches. Some brands cater to this by releasing smaller versions of adult watches, examples include Ice-Watch, Festina, Lotus, Olympic, and Lacoste.

Which watch for a 10-year-old girl or boy?

Watches for 10-year-old girls tend to be slightly larger (28–32 mm) and feature romantic themes like flowers and rainbows, often in white or soft colors. Examples include the Fantasia range from Ice-Watch and the ‘Bubbly Hours’ and ‘Fizz’ models from Flik Flak.
Watches for 10-year-old boys are usually robust and come in darker colors, such as green, blue, and black, or feature a steel bracelet. They often feature an analog-digital display (like the Garonne Kids Q475 series) or an adult-style chronograph design (such as watches from Festina and Lotus).

11+ (on the way to adulthood: digital watches and smartwatches)

When children reach the age of eleven or twelve and are (almost) ready for secondary school, they are usually ready for a truly grown-up watch, or even a (simple) smartwatch designed for children. You might consider, for instance, a smaller model from a women’s or men’s collection, such as a trendy retro digital watch from Casio, or a compact Timex or Swatch.

Children's watch or smartwatch?

For young children, it is important to first learn to tell time using an analog watch with hands; from around age eight, they can then get used to digital watches and, under supervision and without an internet connection, apps and games on a smartphone. Since the general recommendation is to wait until a child is old enough to play outside independently before giving them a smartwatch, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact age. Nevertheless, a child between the ages of 7 and 10 is generally old enough to start using a smartwatch designed specifically for kids, such as those from Ice-Watch or Garmin. You can find more information about smartwatches for children in our blog post: "At what age is my child ready for a smartwatch?"

What should you pay attention to when buying a children's watch?

• Sturdy strap
  The most important thing is that a children's watch fits well and has a sturdy strap. Especially with young children who play a lot, it is best to choose a fabric or rubber strap with many holes so that the watch can be put on and taken off easily and is comfortable.
• Clear digits
  Clearly readable dial for children who are still learning to tell the time. Preferably white with large numbers.
• Water resistance
  Does your child play sports or spend a lot of time playing outdoors? If so, pay attention to the watch's water resistance. A rating of 3 ATM (30 meters) means it is splash-proof, 5 ATM (50 meters) is suitable for showering, and a rating of 10 ATM (100 meters) or higher allows for swimming. Ice-Watch children's watches, for example, are water-resistant to 10 ATM. You can find more information about watch water resistance on our information page.
• Case size
  Do not purchase a children's watch that is too small; they grow quickly, so it is advisable to select a slightly larger model. A good rule of thumb (also for adults) is that the height of the case plus lugs should not extend beyond the wrist. For example, if your child's wrist circumference is 12 cm, choose a watch with a maximum size of 25 mm. You can read how to measure the wrist size in this article.

Tips for wearing and keeping your children's watch beautiful

• By wearing the watch often, your child will get used to reading the time faster. But it is wise to take off the watch before going to sleep.
• Enjoy playing outside with your watch on. But if your child often plays in the sandbox, it is better to take off the watch because sand causes scratches and really gets into everything. Is there sand on the watch? Then rinse the watch (with a minimum water resistance of 5 bar/50 meters) with clean water. Make sure to check beforehand the crown is closed!
• If the watch is not waterproof (1 or 3 bar), teach your child to take off the watch when showering and swimming.
• And preferably lay the watch flat. Never on the glass or crown. In this way, your child learns to handle valuable items in a playful way.

FAQ: Children's watches at a glance

At what age should a child get their first watch?

A child is ready for their first watch when they begin to grasp the concept of time, for example, when they start asking how long something takes or understand what dinnertime or bedtime means. This depends on the child's development and can happen as early as age 3.

At what age do children learn to tell time?

Children usually learn the basics of telling time, hours and minutes, around the age of six. By age seven, they typically learn to read seconds, half-hours, and quarter-hours, and by age 8 or 9, they learn to read a digital clock.  

Which watch is suitable for a seven-year-old child?

A seven-year-old can usually read the time well on an analog watch with hands. Choose a watch with a clear dial in the child's favorite color. A watch featuring a theme the child finds interesting, such as dinosaurs, kittens, or soccer, makes them more likely to enjoy wearing it.

How much does a good children's watch cost?

At Watch.co.uk, you can purchase a simple plastic analog children's watch from Calypso Kids starting at €24, while plastic digital watches from Lorus start at €35. In the €50 to €100 price range, you will find watches for various ages from top brands like Flik Flak and Lacoste, as well as smartwatches from Ice-Watch. From €100, we offer premium watches for teens from Timex and Casio, along with the latest children's smartwatches from Garmin. Watch.co.uk is an authorized dealer for all the brands we sell; in-stock models ship the same business day if ordered before 6:00 PM.

Children's watches at Watch.co.uk

With a selection of nearly 300 children's watches, you’re sure to find a great watch for any child at Watch.co.uk. Need some inspiration? Read our blog post, "The Best Children's Watches Right Now," to discover our personal favorites.

A children's watch as a gift

A watch makes a wonderful gift for a birthday, First Communion, or Christmas. It combines the joy of a beautiful accessory with the development of important life skills like independence and self-confidence. A watch also serves as a lasting reminder of the person, or people, who gave it: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles... Use our handy gift finder to locate the perfect watch in just a few clicks. Are you ordering the watch as a gift (for Sinterklaas or Christmas)? Just let us know when placing your order, and we’ll wrap it up nicely for you!

This blog was first published in november 2022 and updated september 2026.