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Kids dive into cashless payment, but some parents wonder if they should first learn to handle cash

SINGAPORE — Every school day since September, Ms Maisie Tok’s Primary One daughter has put on a smart watch that allows her to pay for purchases at the school canteen or bookshop, while clocking the number of steps she takes.

A primary school student using the smart buddy watch to make payment. TODAY file photo

A primary school student using the smart buddy watch to make payment. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — Every school day since September, Ms Maisie Tok’s Primary One daughter has put on a smart watch that allows her to pay for purchases at the school canteen or bookshop, while clocking the number of steps she takes.

The 38-year-old told TODAY that her daughter, who studies in Bedok Green Primary, is “very happy” to wear the POSB Smart Buddy watch “like the latest fashion in school”.

“(She is) amazed by the functions like the step counter…and is happily clocking her steps while waiting for the school bus in the morning,” added the manager in the healthcare sector.

Another parent, Ms Janet See, 40, whose daughter in Primary Two has also received the smart watch, begs to differ.

Ms See, a sales manager, said “it does not feel right” to have her daughter, a student of Clementi Primary, “exposed to cashless payment … even before she can count (physical) cash”.

Since its official launch in August in primary schools, parents have been divided about their children’s use of the smart watch, although some have opted in despite their misgivings.

A DBS spokesperson stressed the programme, which requires parental involvement, is “entirely optional”.

From more than 6,000 watches issued at 19 primary schools in late-August, DBS said the figure has grown to about 9,000 in 28 schools as of early October.

The aim is for all students from 190 primary schools here to have the gadget within the next two years.

Parents like Ms Tok were excited about the possibilities of cashless payment methods for their children.

“Initially (I was) concerned that (my daughter) would have fewer opportunities to learn mathematics in a concrete way, but (I) noticed that even with the watch, she is able to tell me how much she spent and saved for the day,” said Ms Tok.

“Physical money may eventually be done away with. We need to change our mindsets… (as) the world is changing,” the mother-of-three added.

Ms Charlotte Toh, 39, added that the smart watch has “reduced the hassle of issuing pocket money” every morning to her son in Primary Three in Bedok Green Primary.

The experience “has been good so far” and Ms Toh, a real estate spokesperson, told TODAY the concern that children may spend unnecessarily is assuaged by being able to set spending guidelines for their children and track their spending.

“If it is cash, they (might) keep their own savings secretly and splurge on items... and we may be caught unaware,” said Ms Toh.

While most parents agreed it is good to give their children a headstart in learning to use cashless payment methods, they had reservations about younger schoolchildren going cashless.

Homemaker Nurhudalfian Ana, whose three children aged between seven and 10 have the smart watch, felt her youngest child “should learn how to use and count physical money (first), (and) not just tap (to pay)”.

“Even though they can see how much (in) balance they have, they (might) face difficulty in handling physical money,” Ms Nurhudalfian, who is in her 30s, added.

The experience, however, has been fuss-free so far and she has also told the children to spend their money wisely and to save.

For students to use the watch, parents have to link their savings accounts with the accompanying mobile application before remotely setting their child’s daily allowance limit.

Through the app, they can also transfer money to their child, monitor what is being bought, and automatically transfer savings into the child’s account.

If the watch is misplaced, parents can remotely disable it.

Payments can also be made for NETS digital payment terminals outside the schools.

The DBS spokesperson said there have also been requests to make the watch available to senior citizens.

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