Skip to content
Threadcurve
  • Fashion ToolsExpand
    • Ensemble Builder
    • Color Palette Finder
    • Capsule Wardrobe Builder
    • Hairstyle Recommendation Engine
  • ClothingExpand
    • Shirts
    • Pants
    • Dresses & Skirts
    • Shorts
    • Coats & Jackets
    • Underwear
    • Hoodies & Sweatshirts
    • https://threadcurve.com/craigslist-denver-dating/
    • women seeking men in danville illinois
    • dating sites for ugly guys
    • Sweaters
    • Socks
  • FootwearExpand
    • Boots
    • Shoes
  • AccessoriesExpand
    • Hats
    • Watches
    • Jewelry
    • Wigs
    • Handbags
    • Glasses
  • BeautyExpand
    • Hair
    • Makeup
  • Recent
Threadcurve

The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 – Is This Kids’ Smartwatch Worth It?

March 22, 2023February 25, 2025 Accessories
  • Facebook
garmin vivofit jr. 3

The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 is a fitness tracker for kids that is compact, useful and fun.

FYI, thanks to AI imagery software, we’re able to create very specific fashion examples to illustrate the points being made.

Design

I guess the main draw of this smartwatch comes down to the fictional characters that you can get the watch adorned with.

I bought the Black Panther edition because, uh, this watch is kinda marketed for boys and girls.

Boys get the superheroes. Black Panther, Iron Man, The Hulk and more. My strap has the outline of Black Panther and it’s probably the highlight of the rubber strap’s design. You can also get it in Iron Man’s red and yellow colour scheme.

garmin vivofit jr. 3 strap

There’s also the Disney Princess edition and also a “neutral” edition. All in all, you can get seven colours with different patterns on the strap.

The size of the vivofit jr. 3 is pretty compact. The watch case is about the size of an adult thumb and the watch is really light.

Plan Your Perfect Ensemble

Get 5 personalized outfit ideas with accessories in seconds

List any specific items you want to incorporate, and we'll suggest complementary pieces
✨ This usually takes 10-20 seconds to create your outfit ideas

Your Perfect Ensemble Ideas

I’m not used to watches of this size, since adult smartwatches are usually about 40mm or larger in diameter.

garmin vivofit jr. 3 back

Surprisingly, the watch fit my wrist, although I’m about three-quarters down the notches so any wrist that is sizeably bigger might not be able to use it.

The watch is very light. I really like wearing it and I can wear it 24/7 much more comfortably than the average smartwatch. That’s really good.

Is your child going to read a manual?

Ok, I think this is a valid question because the Garmin vivofit jr. 3 isn’t immediately intuitive.

That’s a bit of a problem if your child can’t or won’t read a manual. Then you’ll have to and you’ll have to explain what is going on.

Let’s put it this way: the first most important thing to note is that the smartwatch doesn’t have a touchscreen. This means every interaction is done through the sole button on the vivofit jr.

That is a good thing and a bad thing. Having one button to conquer all user interaction is great because there’s no confusion as to which button does what. On high-end Garmin smartwatches for adults, there are so many buttons that it takes a while to get a clue.

garmin vivofit jr. 3 watch case

But because there’s only one button, the Garmin vivofit jr. 3 has three levels of interaction via the button. A single tap will allow you to advance through the menus. Then there are two periods of long presses. The shorter of the two allows you to activate the backlight. The longer of the two activates an app menu with apps such as timers.

As an adult, I found that reading the manual and then figuring out the apps can be rather confusing. The manual isn’t very good when looking at the big picture. Here’s why:

The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 is intricately tied to the Garmin Jr. app, but the manual only talks about the watch’s features, and not how they integrate into the Garmin Jr app. So, if you only read the manual, you’ll see references to the app such as an “adventure map.” It’s all very confusing until you start getting in the rhythm of the system.

garmin vivofit jr. 3 garmin jr app

Gamification of life

The appeal of the vivofit jr is probably that it’s very good at gamifying exercise, steps and chores.

Perhaps the appeal to a parent is that it really helps you incentivize your child into doing things you want them to do.

For example, let’s talk about the chore functionality.

If you want your child to do their homework, floss or sweep the floors, you can set assign chores on the Garmin Jr app. You can also pair it up with an alarm that sounds when the chore has to be done, and you will also need to give a coin value to the chore. For example, if you set bathroom cleaning at 10 coins and you mark it as done, your child will see 10 coins on the vivofit jr.

garmin vivofit jr. 3 redeem

You can then set the exchange rate of these coins into “Rewards.” In that menu, these coins can be redeemed for rewards that you can set. So, perhaps you’d set “video games” or “candy” or something that your child likes.

Your child might end up becoming a master negotiator and capitalist at the end of it. Watch out for hyperinflation!

garmin vivofit jr. 3 coins

As an exercise tool and activity tracker

One of the things I really liked about wearing a smartwatch is how it keeps track of my workouts.

Some of the better smartwatches have the ability to automatically track your workouts, but the vivofit jr. 3 doesn’t.

Nonetheless, that might be asking for too much for a very basic fitness tracker.

It has a basic workout tracker that will track distance and time elapsed. I tracked two cycling activities but what I found was that the distance measured was much shorter than what I actually did. The two workouts were marked as walking workouts, which is not something I do. For a watch without a GPS, I am curious to know how the Garmin device got its distances from.

The good news is that the vivofit jr. 3 is a swim friendly fitness tracker. Garmin rates the water resistance to 5ATM (50 metres).

garmin vivofit jr 3 adventure map

Steps and Adventure Map

One of the more interesting features of this smartwatch is how it integrates into an Adventure Map. It’s another way to motivate kids with good behavior with a reward at the end.

Every day that your child meets the 60 minute activity goal on their fitness tracker, they get to move on the adventure map.

For every 60 minutes of activity, your child will be able to move on the Adventure Map and your child can play a mini-game whereby they get points for tapping the right thing. It’s a speed game and a test of dexterity.

garmin vivofit jr 3 adventure maps

Oh, it also requires you to lend your phone to your child to play the game. If you have anxiety of not having your phone with you, think twice.

As you go through the Adventure Map, you’ll get new lore on the storyline that your vivofit jr. is based on. Mine talks about superheroes.

As a sleep tracker

One of my favourite things about wearing a fitness tracker is knowing how I slept.

The accuracy of the Garmin vivofit jr. 3 is OK. For example, I remember not sleeping well one night and really only fell asleep at about 2:30 am. The smartwatch actually recorded me as having fallen asleep at 1:54 am, which is close enough.

One thing this watch lacks is the ability to know if I’m wearing the watch or if I have taken it off. Most other watches determine this by using the heart rate sensor on the rear of the watch case, but there’s no heart rate sensor on this fitness tracker.

garmin vivofit jr 3 back

Battery life

Every smartwatch that I have bought came with a charging cable but the Garmin vivofit jr. 3 doesn’t.

I was a bit surprised, but learned quickly that the reason why it didn’t come with a charging cable is because it has a battery life of up to one year.

So, knowing how these are always exaggerated, I’d say you can expect about six months of moderate use.

Then, you’ll need to go buy a button battery to replace the old battery. In order to replace the battery, you’ll need to pry the watch display from the silicone strap and then access the rear by undoing some screws.

Having a very long battery life is actually pretty amazing. I have been wearing this watch for over a week and I’d say that most of my smartwatches would need a charge by now.

You get a colour display that uses ambient light to illuminate the screen, which means it’s pretty power efficient. If the environment is too dark, you can manually activate the backlight.

garmin vivofit jr 3 in case of emergency

In case of emergency function

If your kiddo gets into trouble often, you can set a three-line message with each line being long enough or a phone number or text that’s the same in character length.

garmin vivofit jr 3 timer

Task Timer, stopwatch and alarm

In an adult’s smartwatch, you’ll get a timer which you can set a custom amount of time. On the Garmin device, you have a set number of minutes for a task that has a matching icon.

Let me explain: there’s a two minute timer with an image of a toothbrush and toothpaste all the way up to 30 minutes with an image of a screen. I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of not being able to set a timer exactly, but I got used to just having the timers set in the ballpark.

The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 also has a stopwatch and an alarm. The alarm is set on the Garmin Jr. app and you can also tie them to chores.

garmin vivofit jr 3

Verdict

I kinda like the Garmin vivofit jr. 3.

As adult wearing it, I recognize that it’s a bit less feature rich as compared to a typical smartwatch or fitness tracker.

But that said, I am a person who has reviewed many smartwatches and I know the depth of it. Your child might find this fitness tracker to be very amusing and very advanced.

So why would you buy this instead of just a regular watch for your child?

For one, it has a step tracker. Apparently, having a step tracker is a pretty good way to

FAQs

Are Garmin vivofit jr. 3 waterproof?

Yes, the fitness tracker is waterproof up to 5ATM (50 metres).

Can Garmin vivofit 3 battery be replaced?

Yes, the battery is user-replaceable. You will need some finessing to remove the vivofit jr from the strap and then a screwdriver the remove the back.

How to sync garmin vivofit jr?

You’ll have to manually sync the Garmin vivofit jr. 3 which is a bit annoying.
First, you’ll need a parent’s compatible smartphone with the Garmin Jr app. Then, you make sure your mobile device’s Bluetooth is turned on. Then, on your Garmin device, you need to long press the sole button until you see a WiFi icon, and then it will automatically sync with the mobile device with the appropriate app.

Does Garmin vivofit jr. track sleep?

Yes, it tracks sleep

  • Facebook

Build Your Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

Create a curated collection of ~20 essential pieces that work together beautifully with AI-powered personalization!

Choose Your Style Aesthetic

✨ Minimal
Clean lines, neutral colors, timeless simplicity
🌸 Boho
Flowing fabrics, earthy tones, free-spirited style
👑 Classic
Timeless elegance, sophisticated pieces, refined style

Select Your Climate

🌤️ Temperate
Four seasons, moderate temperatures, versatile layering
☀️ Warm
Hot climate, light fabrics, breathable materials
❄️ Cold
Cold winters, warm layers, cozy materials

Choose Your Color Palette

🤍 Neutrals
Black, white, gray, beige, navy
🍂 Earth Tones
Browns, rust, olive, cream, terracotta
💎 Jewel Tones
Emerald, sapphire, ruby, amethyst
⚫ Monochrome
Black and white with gray accents
🌸 Pastels
Soft pinks, lavender, mint, powder blue
🌈 Brights
Bold colors, vibrant hues, statement shades

Select Your Lifestyle Needs (Choose Multiple)

💼 Workwear
Professional office attire
👕 Casual Everyday
Comfortable daily wear
✈️ Travel-Friendly
Wrinkle-free, versatile pieces
💃 Date Night
Evening and special occasions
🏠 At-Home
Loungewear and comfort
🏃‍♀️ Activewear
Gym and athletic activities

Choose Your Budget Tier

💰 Budget-Friendly ($)
Affordable finds, smart shopping
💳 Mid-Range ($$)
Quality basics, good value
💎 Investment ($$$)
Luxury pieces, designer quality

Shoe Preferences

🥿 Flats Only
Comfortable, no heels
👠 Heels OK
Include heeled options
👟 Sneakers Focus
Athletic and casual footwear
👡 Mixed Styles
Variety of heel heights

Fit Preference (Optional)

🌊 Relaxed Fits
Comfortable, flowing silhouettes
📏 Tailored Looks
Structured, fitted pieces
⚖️ Mixed Styles
Variety of fits and cuts

Curating your perfect wardrobe...

Post Tags: #Smartwatch Reviews#Watches
  • 29 Wardrobe Staples That Stylists Say Do You No Favors Past 45
  • Stylists Can’t Stop Recommending These 30 Youthful Bobs for Women Over 50
  • Experts Say These 25 Hairstyles for Women Over 50 Will Take a Decade Off Your Look
  • Stylists Overwhelmingly Agree These 17 T-Shirt Ensembles Add 15 Years to Men’s Appearance
  • Stylists Cringe When Men Over 45 Wear These 15 Shoe Styles in 2025
  • 16 Outfits That Scream “Mom in the Early 2000s”
  • 16 Summer Office Outfit Habits for Women That Bosses Deem Trashy and Unprofessional

Related Posts

Stylists Agree that These are the 20 Most Unflattering Sunglasses Styles for Women Over 50

Infinity Scarf

30 Chic Infinity Scarves Wrap Up the Perfect Blend of Comfort and Style (Concept Fashion)

ticwatch e3

I Tested the TicWatch E3: This is What You Need to Know

ticwatch gth vs fitbit sense main screen

Ticwatch GTH vs Fitbit Sense

Apple Watch band release buttons image

How to change an Apple Watch band?

Ticwatch GTH vs Apple Watch Series 6 main

Ticwatch GTH vs Apple Watch Series 6

  • Ensemble Builder
  • Color Palette Finder
  • Capsule Wardrobe Builder
  • Hairstyle Recommendation Engine
Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • About
  • Contact
  • Compensation Disclosure
  • Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

© 2025 Threadcurve

Scroll to top
  • Fashion Tools
    • Ensemble Builder
    • Color Palette Finder
    • Capsule Wardrobe Builder
    • Hairstyle Recommendation Engine
  • Clothing
    • Shirts
    • Pants
    • Dresses & Skirts
    • Shorts
    • Coats & Jackets
    • Underwear
    • Hoodies & Sweatshirts
    • https://threadcurve.com/craigslist-denver-dating/
    • women seeking men in danville illinois
    • dating sites for ugly guys
    • Sweaters
    • Socks
  • Footwear
    • Boots
    • Shoes
  • Accessories
    • Hats
    • Watches
    • Jewelry
    • Wigs
    • Handbags
    • Glasses
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Makeup
  • Recent
Facebook X Instagram
Shop
What are you looking for?
Search