7 Best Kids’ Watches with Alarms in 2022

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Overall Best: Timex TW4B02400 Expedition
Best Vibrating: TICCI Kids’ Watch with Vibrating Alarm
Best Affordable Option: AZLAND Kids’ Wristwatch

One thing we can all agree on is that kids aren’t great at remembering stuff. They need reminders for everything, be it bathroom breaks, taking their medicine, or even going to bed. That’s why a watch with an alarm function can be an invaluable parents’ aide.

Kids’ watches are easy to use and are often equipped with several useful functions. Some have multiple alarms and periodic reminders that you can set for different occasions and purposes. Others alert the wearer discreetly through tactile feedback (vibration), which makes them ideal for quiet environments like libraries.

Whether your child needs reminders to stay focused or you would like help getting them up in the morning, these kids’ watches with alarms, all of which are under $30, will do the trick.

Overall Best Kids Watch with Alarm – Timex TW4B02400 Expedition

Most kids’ watches can’t survive daily showers, swimming, football practice, and gym class like the Timex Expedition. Then again, most kids watches aren’t made by Timex, the preferred watchmaker for professional athletes and Navy Seals like Jocko Willink.

Its medium-size face is perfect for kids’ wrists and is legible in different environments. In the dark, Indiglo lights illuminate the numbers to increase visibility. Apart from the current time, the watch also shows the date, month, and day of the week. It is also effortless to set, whether you’re choosing the time zone or setting the alarm.

Using the Alarm:
The watch has three alarms, which you can customize to go off daily, on weekdays, or on weekends. A small icon will appear on the screen when an alarm is armed.
This icon, along with the Indiglo backlight, flashes when an alarm goes off. You can press any button to disarm the alarm, and if you miss it, a back up alarm goes off five minutes later.

This is arguably the best kids watch with an alarm because it is built like an “adult” watch. It can withstand all the abuse that an active child can subject it to, including the inevitable roughhousing. The battery life is the cherry on top.

When it comes to sheer resilience, this watch outperforms all other kids’ watches by a mile.

Pros

  • Three alarms (repeating daily, weekdays, or weekends)
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Durable build
  • Intuitive settings
  • Easy to Read

Cons

  • Cloth band takes longer to dry after swimming

Best Vibrating Alarm Watch for Kids – TICCI Kids’ Watch with Vibrating Alarm 

When discretion is needed, this TICCI vibrating alarm watch for kids is a much better option. Its multi-alarm format puts several options at your disposal, including a silent alarm that vibrates to discreetly alert the wearer.

The watch is available in ten colors including black, dark blue, and brown-green camouflage. It passes standard water resistance tests just fine, and is safe to swim with, although the manufacturer advises against exposing it to hot water. On the upside, it is sturdy enough to survive rough sports and rowdy playing.

Using the Alarm:
The watch has eight vibrating alarms, each of which you can customize to a high degree. You can set an alarm to beep and vibrate simultaneously, set it to vibrate only, or to beep only. It also has a countdown timer that you can use to set periodic reminders for bathroom breaks, meal times, and bedtimes.

Battery life is decent enough to make maintenance only an occasional necessity. It will be at least two years before you need to replace the lithium CR battery with a new one.

Build-wise, the watch’s straps will easily fit a child’s wrists. The band is tough and comfortable, but the watch’s assembly is wanting. Some reviews indicate a quality control problem, whereby the pin that holds the band to the lugs falls out after some use. 

Fortunately, customer service is five-star. The manufacturer is quick to send free replacements and parts for any defective watches, so you’re covered in case the worst happens. 

Pros

  • Eight vibrating alarms
  • Periodic reminders (15 minutes – 24 hours)
  • Water-resistant
  • Great customer service

Cons

  • Quality control is wanting, especially with regard to the watch’s band assembly

Best Kids Watch with Multiple Alarms – Casio W213-AVCF Waterproof Sports Watch

The Casio W213-AVCF is a practical digital watch that equips the wearer with standard features like a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and up to five daily alarms. It’s medium-sized face is just 1.5 inches across (40mm), so it can fit small children’s wrists. 

Although it’s not flashy, the Casio W213-AVCF is a sporty watch that won’t look too “adult” on a child’s wrist.. General visibility is great thanks to EL backlight with Afterglow, which can be set to turn on automatically when the watch is tilted at an angle.

Using the Alarm:
Setting up the watch is straightforward whether you want to change the time and date or enable the alarm. You can set up to five different alarms for one day. The audible alarm, which only lasts ten seconds, is loud enough to grab the wearer’s attention, but not too loud. Alarm one is the only alarm with a snooze feature—the other four toggle straight from on to off.

Casio is known for their affordable yet high-quality watches, and this one is no different. It has a durable resin case that can handle whatever a child throws at it, and a tough band that can stand the test of time.

Pros

  • Five daily alarms
  • Hourly chime
  • Easy to read
  • Waterproof for up to 165 feet (50m)

Cons

  • Strap replacement can be expensive

Most Affordable Kids Digital Watch with Alarm: AZLAND Kids’ Wristwatch

For situations when your child needs a digital watch with more than one alarm, the Azland KW023-33 is a great choice. Not only will kids love the blue-and-green camo pattern, but it has up to three alarms per day. On top of that, it’s filled with a slew of digital watch features, including a countdown time, stopwatch, and a calendar.

A tough resin case complements its straightforward functionality. It is waterproof, shock-resistant, and can survive temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius. In other words, it is a watch for all seasons and occasions. That also means it can handle a fair amount of bashing, plus survive underwater. Because of this, it is perfectly safe for contact sports and shallow swimming, as long as you don’t press any buttons underwater.

Using the Alarm:
You can set up to three audible alarms per day. Each alarm goes off along with flashes of the backlight and lasts for 30 seconds unless deactivated by pressing any button. Otherwise, the beeping lasts for fifteen seconds before stopping automatically.

For a child’s watch, it is surprisingly stylish. It’s available in blue, purple, and camo, and its buttons have a polished finish that makes it look more expensive than it actually is. It keeps things interesting by offering seven different backlights to choose from, which may be what your child needs to take an interest in learning timekeeping.

Out of the box, it is equipped with a high-capacity 1.5V battery, and it’ll be several years before you need to replace it. Should you have the unfortunate luck of receiving a defective product, you can rest easy knowing that a 12-month warranty covers all quality issues and earns you a free replacement if you need one.

Overall, it is an affordable kids’ watch with multiple alarms, a durable case and strap, and an attractive design that makes it fun to learn timekeeping.

Pros

  • Three audible alarms
  • Adjustable strap
  • Shock-resistant case
  • Waterproof
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Some wearers say that the audible alarm is a little hard to hear sometimes, like when the watch is under a pillow.

Best Boys’ Watch with Alarm – Casio F108WH Illuminator

Perhaps the main advantage of the Casio F108WH Illuminator is that it has a low-profile design that makes it suitable for smaller wrists. It is black, slim, and water-resistant. Despite its elegant appearance, its durability is akin to that of G-Shock timepieces. The resin band has holes that go all the way around it, so it can fit small wrists with ease.

For the all-around best boys’ watch with an alarm, the Casio F108WH Illuminator is a fine choice. It has a low-profile design that makes it suitable for smaller wrists, but all the charm of an army-style G-Shock. It has a rectangular shape with an interface that’s easy to use.

Using the Alarm:
Pressing the bottom right button once takes you to alarm mode, which you toggle with the bottom left and top right buttons. The watch reverts to Timekeeping Mode automatically if you don’t press any button for over two minutes in Alarm Mode. The daily alarm sounds for 20 seconds, and you can disable it by pressing any button.

The resin band is durable—far more durable than any other plastic band at this price point—and the rest of the watch is built in similar fashion. Everything from the square case to the mineral dial window exudes quality that you can only expect from a Casio watch.

Speaking of reliable quality, the battery life is as impressive as you’d expect from a Casio timepiece. On average, the battery takes 7 to 10 years to die out, so you won’t be seeking out replacements anytime soon.

Casio seems to have found a winning template when it comes to their style of digital watch. It’s classic, but there’s nothing boring about it. It’s a good-looking timepiece with a solid feel, a user-friendly build, and reliable timekeeping functions.

Pros

  • Long battery life
  • Durable build
  • Bright LED backlight
  • Easy to operate
  • Suitable for small wrists

Cons

  • Only has a single alarm

Best Girls’ Watch with Alarm – Viposoon Kids’ Watch

The eye-catching design and colorful LED backlights of the Viposoon Kids’ Watch make it stand out as one of the best girls watches with alarms. However, its practical features are what make it a valuable timekeeping tool for young kids who are learning how to tell the time.

This is a watch that any child would have a hard time taking off. It comes in vibrant color schemes, and has cute 3D cartoon designs on its rubber straps: fire trucks, unicorns, or dragons; basically, everything that kids go crazy for.

Using the Alarm:
The watch has an alarm, an hourly chime, a calendar, a stopwatch, and it can show time in either 12- or 24-hour formats. The backlight flashes when the alarm goes off to grab the wearer’s attention, and  you can press any button to disarm it. You can also toggle the hourly chime on or off.

It has a luminous display that’s crystal clear even in bright light. You can choose between seven different colors for the backlight, too. The straps are designed for kids aged five years old and over, so you shouldn’t have any issues with the fit.

Pros

  • 7 backlight colors
  • Audible alarm with flashing LED
  • Great display
  • Available in 11 colors
  • Arrives in a gift box

Cons

  • It is not suitable for showering or swimming

Children’s Watch with Alarm that Parents Can Set from Their Phone – BIGGERFIVE Smartwatch

With a performance that rivals fitness trackers that are ten times more expensive, this BIGGERFIVE smart watch is a lot more valuable than its affordable price tag suggests. On paper, it’s an activity tracker designed for kids aged 5+, but because the best part is how you can set the alarms remotely from your phone.

Another perk is that it’s really light and compact. It has an adjustable band that can fit kids aged five to 15, and the touchscreen display is crystal clear even in darkness. The band comes off to make it easier to charge.

Using the Alarm:
It has five alarms, plus periodic sedentary reminders that can help kids focus on tasks or stay active. It also has a silent vibrating alarm which can be a gentler way to wake up to. The initial setup involves pairing it with a smartphone via the free VeryFitPro app.
From then on, it syncs with the watch automatically. Using the app, you can set alarms remotely and tinker with settings like vibration and beep modes.

I like that you never have to fiddle with USB cables to charge it because it has in in-built USB port—all you need is a compatible adapter. It takes about two hours for the battery to charge fully, and it can last up to 7 days on a single charge.

It is rated IP67 water resistant, and has a nice solid case that can handle the occasional dings and bashes during playtime and roughhousing. For a smart watch that’s under $30, there’s very little to complain about as far as the build quality is concerned.

Pros

  • Five alarms
  • Sedentary reminders
  • Vibrating alarm
  • IP67 water-resistant
  • Can be set remotely

Cons

  • You cannot register and control more than one watch with the same phone

Buying Guide for Children’s Alarm Watches

The hardest part about buying a watch for your kids is not knowing how much to spend. On one hand, you don’t want to end up with a low-quality watch, because that might not make it through the week. On the other hand, there’s really no reason to be spending hundreds of dollars on a kids’ watch.

What’s important is that the watch serves its purpose—whether it’s potty training, waking kids up, or reminding them to take their medicine. Here are the factors you should prioritize:

Affordability

Image credit: Pexels

Most people wear watches in the $20 to $50 range for their entire adult lives, and are perfectly content with that. You may think that a kid’s watch should cost less, but there’s not much lower you can go for an electronic or mechanical piece of technology before you’re buying junk.

A kid’s watch should generally cost $20-$30.

For a watch with alarms and additional durability, I would recommend sticking closer to the $30 mark. That’s better than two $20 watches bought in the same year.

Working Alarms

Some watches have a single alarm while others have multiple. Your choice depends on whether your child needs constant reminders, a single repeating alarm (maybe to serve as a daily wake up call), or a silent alarm for discreet environments.

Most digital watches these days will have alarms in them. The question is – do you need multiple alarms? Or maybe something that’s really easy to set? Or maybe a watch that vibrates on the wrist for a discreet reminder?

Size

Not every watch will fit your child’s wrist. To avoid headaches, check that the manufacturer has specified that the watch can fit small wrists (they usually do).

Some watches, especially those with large faces, are not comfortable to wear if you have small wrists. They can make timekeeping a hassle. Therefore, pay attention to the size of the watch because it will determine how user-friendly your child will find it.

Generally speaking, you should look at the diameter of a watch to get a sense of the sizing. Here is the general range for men, women, and children (from what is considered small to large):

  • Men: 36mm to 47mm
  • Women: 31mm to 41mm
  • Children: 27mm to 40mm

Style

Besides price, size, and functionality, a watch for children with vibrating alarms should also be stylish. You kid will be judged by their peer group at any age, and if you can give them a cool bonus in style, why not take it?

Notice the colors of the watch you’re looking for, and your child’s personality type. Maybe the camo watch is a good fit for a girl, but most people would disagree. Notice the strap colors and styles as well. Remember, you want to get a watch that you kid will actually wear, not just throw in a toy box and forget.

Durability

Kids can be clumsy and unaware, which is why childproofing is a thing. These guys will walk in front of a bus like it’s not there with such an audacity as to frighten a bus driver for days later, and they will likely have the same impact on a fragile timepiece.

If you want a watch that will last your children a long time, make sure that it’s durable. As a general rule of thumb, the watches with the best durability in this price range are going to be from Casio and Timex. These brands have withstood the test of time, and have a reputation for affordable, high-quality timepieces.

Water Resistance

Lastly, a watch for kids that also has alarm functions ought to have some degree of water resistance. Whether the kid is dropping applesauce on the dial or just digging around the toilet, some water resistance is required to survive the random chaos a child’s wrist is subjected to.

The gold standard for water resistance is 200m. This is found on professional-grade dive watches.

Next best is 100m, which is found in high-quality field watches.

For nominal water resistance, look for 50m. This in my opinion is the minimum requirement for any watch that might find itself in contact with water. I would not submerge anything with less water resistance.

Lastly, 30m is a common water resistance level. This will probably not survive any submersion, so keep it away from water and showers.

Also, keep in mind that these water resistance levels don’t account for steam from a hot shower. Technically, even 200m dive watches are not meant to be exposed to hot showers, so if you do so with a 30m watch, you’ll be taking some risk.

Photo by Michael Morse from Pexels

Conclusion: Kids’ Watches with Alarms

If your search for an affordable kids watch has led you here, then the seven I’ve listed above are all equipped with decent alarms, durable cases, and great designs that any child would love. Plus, they’re all under $30.

You could be an untiring parent and play the role of your child’s personal reminder, or you could get them a kid’s watch with an alarm and let them learn on their own. Either way, all the watches in this list can help them learn how to tell the time, and more importantly, how to stay organized and learn independence.

Featured photo credit: Alexander Dummer from Pexels


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