AirTags rely on being able to piggyback off of other iPhones to report their location. They are not a self-contained device, merely an appliance. If you give your kid a smartwatch with cellular or a full-fledged phone, you can track where they are but also they have the ability to contact you/be contacted if need be. Sure, there are drawbacks to such choices, but that is what being well-informed as a parent is all about.
Better for what purpose? If you’re on holiday in a busy, foreign city, an AirTag for location tracking is much cheaper than this other options.
AirTags rely on being able to piggyback off of other iPhones to report their location. They are not a self-contained device, merely an appliance. If you give your kid a smartwatch with cellular or a full-fledged phone, you can track where they are but also they have the ability to contact you/be contacted if need be. Sure, there are drawbacks to such choices, but that is what being well-informed as a parent is all about.