Fitbit recently launched the Fitbit Ace, a specialized band for children. According to Fitbit, the goal is to
fight childhood obesity, which has tripled in the U.S. since the 1970s. In 2015 to 2016, 1 in 5 children ages 6 to 19 years old has obesity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises parents to actively help children maintain a healthy weight. And one way to do that is through physical activities that they can track using the Ace band. However, it's not only for obese young people. Parents who want to track their children's health, activities and sleep pattern will also enjoy the new Fitbit band. Dive in and find out how both you and your kids will love the Fitbit Ace.
Has a Kid-Friendly Design
Fitbit designed Ace for kids, so it made sure to make it something that a child will love to wear every day. It doesn't have a cartoonish design, though. After all, the youth will most likely want to wear something adult-like. The children have 10 fun clock faces to choose from, however. The Fitbit Ace also comes in two fun colors: Power Purple and Electric Blue. Children are a magnet for splashes and spills. Fitbit kept that in mind and fashioned the Ace to be showerproof. It should stay safe when kids take a shower or stand in the rain. However, note that your kids can't wear it when they swim. It's only water resistant with an IPX7 certification, not waterproof. You can also adjust the band to have it fit better on your child's wrist and make sure it doesn't slide off. With that said, Fitbit recommends it for kids ages 8 and up. According to the
company's research, children tend to become less active after 8 years old.
Encourages Friendly Competition
The Fitbit Ace allows your kids to challenge other kids with the band. The children can compete in terms of step count, which will earn them a virtual trophy as well. When they're not challenging each other, they can compare their stats. This urges them to move more. Even though the virtual trophies aren't real, the health achievements are legitimate. Moreover, your kids can compete not only with their friends but with you as well. According to Fitbit, the company wants families to participate in the Fitbit ecosystem. Fitbit aims for every member to support each other in their health goals. Parents can also join in on the fun with Fitbit's other models, like the new Versa smartwatch. At $199, it's a fitness tracker and an everyday watch on one device.
Get Kids Moving
Parents can set up notifications that remind kids to move when they've been still for too long. As long as the wearer has it, the band automatically tracks the steps and active minutes. There are also reminders that urge the kids to take 250 steps every hour or even to go to sleep. The Fitbit Ace encourages kids to move for 60 minutes in default. That's 30 minutes more than the default setting for adults. This is in line with the World Health Organization's
recommendation for children aged 5 to 17 to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes every day.
Ensures Kids Are Getting Enough Sleep
Currently, Fitbit focusing on having kids get 9 to 12 hours of sleep. The
Fitbit Ace can track your child's sleeping patterns and disruptions. This can help you manage their bedtimes and see if they're sleeping well. However, the feature is not as capable as Fitbit's other fitness trackers for adults.
Sets Goals and Rewards
To encourage your kids to move, you can both set daily goals that will give them a congratulatory message when they complete it. Big milestones will also reward the wearers with virtual badges when they reach them. This is important because most
kids perform better when they have clear goals. Using the Fitbit band gives kids access to a tangible goal to reach for, ensuring they can check their progress whenever they want to.
Track with the App
As with other Fitbit fitness bands, you can view your child's progress through an app. It has two views: Parent View and Kid View. In the Parent View, you can see the progress of your children and track their stats. It's also through the app that you can set up reminders to move or to sleep. In the Child View, they can see their own stats and badges. This allows them to only see what's important for them amidst the other data. If they wish to change the clock's face, they can do so in the app. The app now also has a section called Fitbit family. This new section allows family members to link accounts and set challenges for each other. It also displays the whole family's trackers, which lets you see the progress of each member. The app also lets family members send messages to other members.
Technical Specs
Fitbit claims that the Lithium-polymer battery can
last up to 5 days with a single charge. When it runs out of juice, plug it in for 1 to 2 hours and it's good for another 5 days. The display is OLED, and underneath there's the vibration motor and a 3-axis accelerometer. It syncs with Android and iOS devices via the Bluetooth LE wireless technology.
Is Fitbit Ace Right for Your Kid?
The security is about everything that should pique your concern. But no need to worry as Fitbit is serious about looking after the children's interests. The Ace band is compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which means that your children's data is safe. The Fitbit band for kids should have no negative consequences. It can't distract the children enough like a smartphone can. It also encourages healthy habits early in your kids' life.
Buy the Ace for Your Kid Now
Interested to get your child moving? The Fitbit Ace is now available for preorder on its website. For $99.95, every package comes with the tracker, a wristband, and a charging cable. As it only comes in two colors, why not get a replacement strap that represents your kid's personality?
Surprise your child with their favorite color today.
