Save Big on the Safest Kid Smartphone or Watch for Back to School

Choosing the Right Technology for Your Child

A new school year often brings up the same big question for many families: is it time for my child to have a phone? Between busy schedules, after-school activities, and growing independence, many parents may find themselves thinking about how they want their kids to stay connected while also building healthy digital habits. A first phone can make daily routines easier, but it can also bring new decisions around apps, screen time, and staying safe online.

When it comes to choosing a first phone, parents often have two options: set up a traditional smartphone with parental controls or choose a device designed specifically for kids and teens from the start.

The Role of Digital Safety Platforms

One company that can help in this decision-making process is Bark Technologies, a family digital safety platform. Its flagship product, the Bark Phone, is a smartphone built specifically for kids and teens with monitoring, content filtering, and screen time management built into the device itself. Instead of relying on a mix of settings and apps that can vary depending on your phone, the Bark Phone gives families tools designed around the way kids use technology today.

To help families make the back-to-school transition a little easier, Bark is offering $30 off the Bark Phone or Bark Watch with promo code B2SCHOOL30 for a limited time. So, this is your chance to save while finding a device that feels like the right fit for your child's age, independence level, and needs.

Features of the Bark Phone

The Bark Phone is a fully parent-managed smartphone that gives kids the freedom to stay connected while parents control contacts, apps, screen time, location, and get built-in Bark monitoring to help surface potential concerns. Parents can manage:

Choose who your child can communicate with.
Decide which apps they can use.
Set healthy screen time schedules and limits.
Stay connected with location sharing and tracking.
Get built-in content monitoring that helps flag potential concerns when something needs attention.

The goal is to help families create healthier technology habits while kids gain more independence. The Bark Phone also recently added Bark Assistant, a feature designed to help parents better understand their child’s device experience, get insights, and adjust settings more easily.

Alternatives for Younger Children

Not sure your younger child is ready for a smartphone? Consider the Bark Watch. A first connected device doesn't have to mean a smartphone right away. For younger kids who need a way to reach family members but aren't quite ready for full smartphone access, the Bark Watch offers a simpler option. It gives families a way to stay connected while helping children gradually build digital responsibility.

Many families use a smartwatch as a stepping stone, which provides communication and reassurance now while leaving room to consider a smartphone later.

Benefits of the Bark Watch

The Bark Watch is a kid-friendly first device that helps keep children connected with talk, text, GPS tracking, camera, and SOS features, without internet, apps, or social media, plus built-in Bark monitoring for messages and images.

Making the Right Choice for Your Family

What makes the Bark Phone the right choice for your family? For many parents, the first phone decision isn’t just about staying in touch; it's about finding the right balance between independence and family guidance. A traditional smartphone can offer plenty of features, but parents may spend time setting up restrictions, reviewing apps, and managing different tools to create the experience they want for their child.

The Bark Phone takes a different approach by putting family management features directly into the device. This ensures that parents have control over key aspects of their child's digital life without the hassle of managing multiple apps and settings.

Additional Back-to-School Deals

Get more back-to-school deals at Bark. USA TODAY Shopping will be covering all the best deals and drops, so be sure to sign up for text alerts, check us out on Flipboard, follow us on TikTok, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram to stay updated!

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