This post is sponsored by Verizon but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
Kids Don’t Play Outside Anymore—This is How I’m Bringing Back a ‘90s Summer For My Child
There’s a certain kind of summer so many of us can’t stop talking about lately. The kind where bikes were ditched in front yards, popsicles melted down sticky hands, and the only rule was to be home when the streetlights turned on. It’s the childhood we remember—or maybe the one we wish we had—and it’s having a moment for a reason. Because today, parenting feels a little different.
I want my kids to have that same sense of freedom. I want them to roam a little, explore a little, and come home with grass-stained knees and stories I didn’t fully witness. But the reality is, giving kids that kind of independence now comes with a whole new set of worries. How do you stay connected without handing over a smartphone (and everything that comes with it)?
For me, the answer has been finding a middle ground. A way to say “yes” more often without the constant underlying anxiety. That’s where the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure came in. It’s not a phone or a distraction. It’s a simple, intentional bridge between the kind of freedom I want for my kids and the safety I need as their mom.
What makes the Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure different from a smartphone
Before this, I felt stuck in that all-or-nothing mindset: I was either hovering or handing over too much too soon. A smartphone just wasn’t the right fit for a rising second grader, but neither was total disconnection. The Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure sits right in that sweet spot.
Features that give me peace of mind
The biggest shift for me has been the GPS tracking. Whether my son is moving between camp activities, heading to a neighbor’s house, or playing somewhere out of sight, I can check his location in real time. It’s the quiet reassurance that makes it easier to loosen the reins.
Location alerts have also been a game-changer. We’ve set clear boundaries, like the edge of the woods behind our house, and I get notified if those boundaries are crossed. It allows me to give him space while still keeping those guardrails in place.
And then there’s communication… He can call or text me whenever he wants without asking another adult or waiting around for phone access. That alone has changed how he shows up in the world. He checks in because he wants to, not because he has to. There’s even an auto-answer feature, which means I can reach him without worrying about him missing a call. That steady line of connection makes independence feel realistic instead of risky.
Encouraging independence without the distraction
What I love most is what the watch doesn’thave: the internet. No apps pulling his attention away, no excessive screen time. It’s just enough technology to support independence without replacing the kind of imaginative, unplugged play I’m trying so hard to protect. Instead of staring at a screen, he’s outside building forts, racing scooters down the driveway, and inventing elaborate “missions” with his younger brother. It feels a lot closer to the childhood we’re trying to recreate.
From the backyard to the block: putting Gizmo to the test
I didn’t grow up with the kind of childhood where you could hop on a bike and disappear for hours. Living in New York City, my parents had to be intentional about giving me independence. For me, that looked like overnight camp—long, unstructured summer days spent outside, figuring things out on my own. Those experiences stuck with me and helped build my confidence slowly. And now, as a parent raising my own kids in suburban New England, I find myself thinking about that same balance all the time.
Lately, it’s the in-between moments that have felt the most significant. After school, while I’m wrapping up work, my boys ask for a little more freedom, like playing out back, riding their bikes up and down the driveway, or running to a neighbor’s house. And I’ll be honest: there’s almost always a “no.” What if they go too far? What if they push past the boundaries we’ve set? But with the Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure, I’ve started saying “yes” anyway.
One of the first moments that really stayed with me happened over winter break. My son was invited on a full-day trip with his best friend’s family, which would be his first long day away without us. I felt that familiar hesitation creeping in, but this time, it was quieter. That morning, he strapped on his watch and practically glowed with excitement. Throughout the day, I could check his location and see little updates come through—quick messages, telling me how much fun he was having. And when he walked back through the door that night, something had shifted. He felt more confident. More capable. And honestly, so did I.
Now, I see that same growth happening in smaller, everyday ways. He’ll head outside to play, and instead of hovering nearby, I let him go. I glance at his location if I need to. Sometimes he sends me a quick “I love you” or a string of enthusiastic emojis (the poop emoji makes a frequent appearance). Even sweeter? The messages he and his brother send each other when they’re apart—voice notes filled with “mission updates” from whatever imaginary world they’re in that day.
This summer, I’m not trying to recreate some picture-perfect version of the past. I’m just trying to say “yes” a little more! Whether it’s one more lap around the block or building forts at the edge of the woods. Because independence isn’t something you hand over all at once–it’s something you build moment by moment, season by season. And for us, this feels like the start of something really good.
Alexandra is the Chief of Sales working with both The Everygirl and The Everymom’s partners, sponsors, and collaborators since 2015. She works with all partners to develop multi-channel programs and partnerships that bring our readers the latest trends from key brands such as La Marca Prosecco, Obé Fitness, Blue Apron, Kohl’s, Kendall Jackson, Glossier, and Equilibria.
McKenna Pringle, Assistant Editor of Branded Content
As the Assistant Editor of Branded Content, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth and productive process.
*$99.99 purchase w/ new watch line on Unlimited for Gizmo plan (min. $10/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d. Less $100 promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR.
This post is sponsored by Verizon but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
