Unpairing should erase all content and settings on your watch, but in my case, it didn’t. If it doesn’t work for you either, tap Settings on the watch, then general > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

At this point, you can have your child wear it (when charged). The watch will say Bring iPhone Closer to Apple Watch. When you open the Watch app, you are allowed to choose Settling for a Family Member. Point the phone’s viewfinder at the slow-motion animation to match, or select Match Manual.

Apple’s tutorial is pretty straightforward from this point on. I chose a passcode that was easy for my daughter to remember and chose her from my family list. I have continued cellular service. Then I set up all the usual features and services for an Apple Watch, incl Purchase Request so he can’t buy anything from the app store without my permission, Messagesand Emergency SOS.

I also choose to limit my daughter’s contacts on the watch. First, go to Settings > iCloud > Contacts on your phone and make sure it is turned on. Then click out, back to Settings > Screen Time > Family Member > Limitations on Communication. You need to ask your child’s permission to manage their contacts and approve them from the child’s watch. On their watch, you can add and rename contacts from your contact list (Dad becomes “Grandpa,” Tim becomes “Uncle Timmy,” etc.).

The last step is to turn on School timewhich is basically a remote-controlled version of an adult Work Focus. It blocks apps and complications, but emergency calls can still come through. The setup tutorial will teach you how to set up Schooltime on your child’s watch, but if you skip it during setup, you can manage it later. On your iPhone, tap All Watches > Your Child’s Watch > School time > Change the Schedule.

I chose to turn on school hours when my child is in school and turn them off during after school care, but you can also click Add Time if you want to turn it on during morning class, take a break for lunch, and then turn it on again. Your child can only turn the digital crown to exit Schooltime, but that’s OK—you can check their Schooltime reports on your iPhone.

To manage your child’s watch, go to your See > All Watches > Family Watches > Your Child’s Apple Watch. This is how you install updates and manage settings. For more settings you can turn on or off, see Apple’s complete list here. For example, you can check health details, set up a Medical ID, or even edit their smart responses.

Fun for All

Like everyone else a grown-up Apple Watchthe first thing you’ll probably want to do is switch the watch face. Hold the screen and wait for the face to shrink, and swipe to move. (You might also want to buy some baby specific watch band.)

We got my daughter an Apple Watch, so I can see her on Find My, and she can contact me by phone or Messages app, which he did with regret frequency.