Smartwatches can be a great fit for children and people on the Autism spectrum: At the Autism Society of America, we often hear that these smart devices can help build routines, improve communication and foster independence. On top of that, smartwatches can help guardians keep an eye on their loved one’s location and activity—since children and people with Autism are four times more likely to wander than their neurotypical siblings. As with all parenting decisions, the decision to use locative technology should be made in balance with autonomy and safety in mind.
This article is sponsored by Verizon.
To explore the benefits of smartwatches, two members of the Autism Society staff recently used the Gizmo Watch 3 and Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure with their kids for a week. Here are six ways the Gizmo Watch 3 makes caring for kids and people with Autism a little easier.
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1. Helps reinforce daily routines
A set routine can help neurodivergent kids reduce anxiety and gain independence. Over time, continuing to practice routines can help with executive functioning skills like time management, planning, and organization. And technology can help children and people with Autism establish healthy habits like keeping up with personal hygiene tasks, schoolwork, and chores.
In particular, our parents found that the timer and checklist features of the Gizmo Watch 3 helped their kids with daily routines. “We used the timers for medication management, screen-time breaks, chores, mealtimes, brushing teeth, and showering,” says Nicole Miller, mom of 16-year-old Alex, who used the Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure. “These were super helpful for independence!”
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2. Encourages activity
Studies show that step-count monitors can increase walking, which helps to increase overall physical activity. In the Autism community, encouraging exercise is important because people with Autism tend to have poorer muscular strength and endurance.
The parents testing both versions of the Gizmo Watch 3 noted that the step counter helped their kids set and track step goals. John Brown, father of 8-year-old Wyatt, noted that exercise has been a struggle because of Wyatt’s physical limitations; but the Gizmo Watch 3’s step counter was a handy way to know how much movement was happening throughout the day.
Both watches also include a timer-based jump counter, so kids have a fun outlet to release bursts of energy.
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3. Allows for easy messaging
A smartwatch can be a great first step when parents aren’t ready for a child to have a smartphone. For example, both parents found that the Gizmo Watch 3 and Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure helped them keep in touch with their kids through voice calls and in-app messaging.
For younger kids or people with Autism who may struggle with texting, the smartwatches offer speech-to-text messaging, so kids can talk to the watch and have their words transcribed.
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Miller noted that her son, Alex, used the messaging feature a lot. “He’s savvy with messaging,” she says. “So this was a key feature of the watch.”
Brown said that while Wyatt was too young to text, his older brother really got the hang of it. “I’m already looking into getting a watch for my 10-year-old, Connor,” he says. “I have been hesitant to get him a cell phone, but the Gizmo is perfect for him.”
With both Gizmo watches, all contacts must be parent-approved, and group chats can be created by the parent.
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4. Helpful when they wander
Perhaps the best feature of the Gizmo Watch 3 and Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure was the ability for Brown and Miller to see the location of their children throughout the day. Whenever possible, the person with Autism and their caregivers should decide together whether they want to use location-based technology.
The majority of parents with children with Autism note that wandering and elopement is one of their most stressful concerns. With 74% of elopement incidences occurring from a person’s home (or someone else’s home), it’s imperative to have safety measures in place to reduce the risk of negative outcomes.
With the Gizmo watches, parents can create location alerts to provide location updates at specific times of day, or when they cross in or out of specific areas. Additionally, real-time tracking allows parents to see their loved one’s location from the Gizmo Hub parent app on their phones.
“Alex does wander,” Miller says, “and this was a great feature to keep him safe.”
Brown agreed, saying the geofencing feature was super easy to set up. “I absolutely love this and would highly recommend the watch to any caregiver with a loved one who wanders.”
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5. Durable and scratch-resistant
All kids can be tough on their tech, and the Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure has a diamond-like carbon coating, making it better equipped to resist scratches. The raised edge on its frame also provides even more protection if it’s dropped or banged.
“Wyatt is really tough on stuff; he can throw tablets and break items easily,” says Brown. “The watch held up to lots of pulling and twisting; he dropped it many times, and there isn’t a scratch on it.”
When it comes to actually wearing a watch, it’s important to remember that some people with Autism are sensitive to certain physical stimuli. Miller’s son, Alex, had no problem keeping the watch on each day, while 8-year-old Wyatt had a little more difficulty keeping the watch on his wrist. The added sensory input of a watch is something to consider when buying a smartwatch for a neurodivergent person.
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6. Offers engaging games and Gizmo-only buddy interactions
Whether you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or have time to kill before therapy appointments, having games on hand can be a fun and educational way to entertain your child. Both Gizmo watches are preloaded with three games: Tic Tac Toe, Puzzle, and Gizmo Says. The Adventure version of the watch also has math and memory games to further encourage learning.
With simple instructions, bright visuals, and no overwhelming sensory stimuli, the games on the Gizmo Watch 3 aim to please kids.
A peace-of-mind partner
Smartwatches have emerged as a key tool to connect caregivers to children and people with Autism while providing skill-building and independence. All parents want their kids to have fun and be safe—and Gizmo watches can help all kids, neurodivergent or not, do just that.
“By far this is the easiest device I’ve used to assist in keeping Wyatt safe,” Brown says.
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The Autism Society is the oldest and largest grassroots Autism organization, serving more than half a million individuals per year in the U.S. The organization focuses on advocacy, education, services, and support for millions of people with Autism, their families, and support professionals.
