The Parent-Approved Apple Watch SE Is at the Lowest Price We've Ever Seen Thanks to an Early Prime Day Sale

As any parent of a tween knows all too well, figuring out when to get your child their first smartphone is a whole thing. Thankfully, there is a much safer—and more affordable—way to stay in touch with your kids.

Apple's "Family Setup" now allows parents to connect both their own and their child's Apple Watch to one iPhone. That update has been a game-changer for parents of younger children, which is why they'll be glad to hear that all models of the Apple Watch SE are available at the lowest prices of the year ahead of Prime Day.

To buy: Apple Watch SE, from $229.99 (originally $279.99); amazon.com

As cool as you might have felt growing up sporting a Casio watch with a calculator or an educational Flik Flak watch, the Apple Watch is undoubtedly the must-have, on-trend wearable device for kids—and parents—these days. And it's also making lives easier for families.

From its Fitness+ service, which can help squeeze workouts into your hectic life and can foster your child's love of health and wellness, to its GPS tracker that can help you keep tabs on your child's location, the Apple Watch SE boasts a bevy of features that are perfectly tailored to reduce the everyday stress you inevitably face as a parent.

Thanks to Family Setup and the optional cellular connectivity, you can grant your elementary schooler or tween the ability to text or call you to stay connected even if they aren't quite ready for their own iPhone. You can set up alerts that will notify you when your child is not where they are supposed to be. And if you're concerned that even the watch will become a distraction when they're trying to study, there's even a "Schooltime Mode" feature, which puts the device in "Do Not Disturb" mode, restricts interactions on the device, and locks the watch face on a recognizable yellow analog clock.

The Apple Watch SE is also especially advantageous for new parents who have to keep track of everything from their little one's feeding schedule to pediatrician appointments. "I used an app called Baby Feed Timer, and it synced my son's feeding schedule to my Apple Watch," explains Melissa Bykofsky, Parents' Editorial Director, Trends & Features. "So when I was all out of whack with new mom sleep deprivation, it kept us on schedule."

And because she never knew where her phone was when she was holding the baby and didn't have pockets, it helped Bykofsky stay in contact with everyone from her child's doctor to her mom. "I could answer straight from my Apple Watch," she notes.

The investment is also wise for parents who are looking to easily pair their iPhone with a watch (because who has time for glitchiness?). As one Amazon reviewer, who has owned both a Samsung watch and a Fitbit, puts it, "while both work with the iPhone, neither work as seamlessly with it as the Apple brand does." Another Amazon customer shared that they're glad they "made the investment" and appreciate the fact that it can easily just be "a basic watch with phone and text message notifications," plus it's "easy to set up and use."

While Prime Day is set to return on July 12 and 13, early deals—like the price-slash on all Apple Watch SE models—are already available. The 40mm with GPS normally sells for $279.99, but right now it's at its lowest price of the year at $229.99. The 40mm GPS + Cellular option also has a discount, selling for $299 instead of the usual $329. The larger 44mm GPS model has an on-site coupon that brings the price down to $259.99, and the 44mm GPS + Cellular Apple Watch SE has a 15% discount at $305.91.

These Apple Watches are also eligible for free shipping and free returns through Amazon, so there's really no reason to skip out on a device that basically functions as an all-in-one life coach, personal trainer, and even nanny.