New kids’ smart watch gives little adventurers their very own Disney sidekick

...And now I kinda want one for myself.

Smart devices are in every home, pocket and more these days, even making their way to our wrists. As it turns out, the wrists of kids are no exception. A new smart watch, recommended for ages 6-9, provides kids with their very own Disney sidekick. Created by Vodafone in collaboration with Disney, the Neo smart watch looks set to bridge the gap between a child's sense of independence and a parent's peace of mind. Neo users can choose their sidekick from a range of Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters including Minnie Mouse, Frozen’s Elsa, Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear, Star Wars’ Darth Vader, The Mandalorian's The Child/Grogu (or as the internet knows him, "Baby Yoda") and the Armoured Avenger. This sidekick will spring to life throughout the kid's day to make activities fun, play sound effects when they move and offer encouragement and praise when meeting goals set by the activity tracker. Parents can download an app to their smartphone that connects to their child's Neo. With this, they can check in on the watch's location, set reminders or calendar activities, approve contacts their child tries to add and set parental controls. Call and chat features also allow kids to keep in touch or send pictures and videos taken with the watch's camera to parents and approved contacts. And since it's designed for little adventurers, the Neo is waterproof (IP68 rated) and has a durable build. Its ergonomic angled strap comes in two colour options: Mint and Ocean. Vodafone says the Neo will be updated with new features and functionality on an ongoing basis. These are to include 10-second video clips, 30-second voice messages, Disney character camera filters, Disney Games, and additional sidekick characters. In terms of how far it'll set you back, the Neo is €199.99 up until December 31, after which it'll be €249.99. A separate Vodafone Smart SIM subscription is required for connectivity, costing €0.00 in connectivity per month for the first 12 months and €9.99 per month thereafter (when purchased before December 31). Kinda wish our grown-up smart watches had Disney features, tbh...