Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 Review

It’s important to encourage kids with physical activity without making it seem like a chore or punishment. As parents, we want them to associate fitness with something positive, not negative. When we get up and move it is not only good for our body but our minds as well. It’s also good to teach kids to be mindful of what they are doing and how their time is spent. The Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 is a fun fitness tracker that provides a way to introduce kids to exercise and help them establish healthy habits.

What is Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2?

The band is a fitness tracker geared specifically towards kids. They have fun bands that include favorite franchises such as Star Wars, Avengers, Disney Princesses, and more. The main purpose of the tracker is very similar to what adults use them for- it allows for steps to be counted, daily goals to be set and it can monitor sleep as well. To up the ante on fun, Garmin has created a Vivofit jr. App which has fun games that kids earn moves on based on their activity.

Kids are able to set up competitions with themselves or with others to see who can get the most steps in a certain timeframe. This could be anywhere from a toe to toe challenge for two minutes, to a week-long competition.

The bands are waterproof and come with a 1+ year battery (which is replaceable) so there’s no need to worry about charging.

Another cool aspect of the bands is that timers and chores can be set within the app. When the chore is completed then they can earn coins that accumulate until a reward is reached. You can set reminders which will show on their band, for example, if they should start homework at 3:30, the watch will display an alert at that time.

Why is Physical Activity Important?

It’s been proven that regular physical activity can help kids improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as heart disease (CDC).

The Vivofit Jr. 2 Band is a great way to make kids aware of how much activity they are getting and allows them to challenge themselves to real goals. It’s a great tool to encourage physical activity and make them aware of how much they are getting in a fun way.

Verdict on Vivotfit Jr 2 Band Review

The kids love their Vivofit Jr. 2 Band and that they earn moves on the app when the meet their 60-minute activity goal. For my nine-year-old, it also helps when she wants to sit in front of the tv and don’t realize how long she’s been doing it until I ask what her activity for the day so looks like. It also makes for less arguing that “I haven’t been sitting here all day” which is a bonus.

My six-year-old loves his band as well and enjoys the challenges. He also likes having the ability to set timers whether it’s for a challenge or to see how long it takes him to take a bath.

I want fitness to be a part of what they do not some dreaded forced activity. The Vivofit Jr. 2 Band helps accomplish that. Since using the bands, there is a definite increase in awareness of activity and fun in making sure that they meet challenges and goals. Yes, there are definitely still lazy days but there is also excitement when they meet two activity rings or have a large number of steps giving them a sense of accomplishment which is a lot of fun to see.

The bands themselves are very durable and we haven’t had any issues with the graphics on them or the band coming off. As mentioned earlier they are waterproof so the kids can wear them in the tub or pool with no worries of damage. I’ve found that these have been a really fun way to remind the kids to be active without being pushy or feeling forced.

I hope you found this Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 review helpful!

Where to Find

You can find the Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 Bands at retailers such as Target and Walmart as well as on Amazon. You can also find bands only on Amazon so that you can swap them out with new bands.

Bands ONLY