Going Ape with the VTech Kidizoom Smart Watch

Today was a day of firsts.

The first time we had been to a Go Ape.

The first time we had tried out a smart watch.

The first time A had ever done anything at any height or gone on a proper zip wire.

It was all thanks to VTech who invited us to Go Ape in Uxbridge to spend the day testing out the Kidizoom Smart Watch.  As we arrived and I was watching other kids on the Tree Top Junior Course all busy navigating themselves around the various obstacles and platforms and I did wonder if the children would actually be able to try out the smart watch, but they certainly proved me wrong.

The children were shown how to use the Kidizoom Smart Watch and shown a list of different ways that they could make use of the functions around the course.  The watch is a very clever little gadget; it is very compact and at first glance looks like a watch but it is so much more than that. It is touch screen and features a range of digital and analogue faces to choose from with an alarm, camera, stop watch, timer, video camera, photo editor, voice recorder and even games.  That is not bad for such a small device and of course it has the bonus of being attached to the wrist so that it won’t get lost.

Instructions had been set up on each stage of the course explaining to the children which function of the watch they could test out such as the voice recorder as they went hurtling down the zip wire or the timer to try and do segments of the course in a set time. It has been very well thought out and all of the children involved took their job of testers very seriously and wherever you looked, there were children videoing, taking photos and timing themselves as they flew (perfectly safely) across the rope bridges.

It was quite interesting to see how my three found the watch as they are all different ages but all share a love of technology and gadgets. A absolutely loved the watch.  She quickly picked up how to use the watch which impressed me as she is only four.  She had to be shown a couple of things but was soon happily making funny photos and playing with the games.  The boys are 9 and 10 and they both really liked the watch.  L liked the different clock faces and the voice recorder.  He has some particularly interesting recordings that he made around the course and made us all laugh with them on the way home.  R liked the fact that it was so compact and how easy it was to use.

One thing that the day proved was that the Kidizoom watch is a great idea for kids on the go. It has lots of great functions yet the smart watch is really compact.  It is very easy to use as even A who is 4 could operate all of the functions easily.  The quality of the photos and video footage that the boys took at Go Ape  is really good and the stopwatch was popular too as the boys love being able to time themselves doing a variety of sporting activities.  The battery life is good too and it come with a USB which makes it really easy to connect and download any photos and video footage.  We really like the watch and I have no doubt that they will be very well used as my three are always on the go.

 We had an amazing time and the children all agreed that Go Ape was amazing and definitely something that they would love to do again.

 We were given the VTech Kidizoom Smart Watches and free entry to Go Ape for the purpose of this post.  All images and opinions are our own.