Which cell phone should you get for your kid?
By Sloan Barnett

When we were kids we wanted to play with adult gadgets — our parents’ telephones, typewriters, anything in the kitchen, the vacuum, etc. Kids today are no different — they see us on our BlackBerrys or cell phones and they want one for themselves. It’s a scary thing to think your 5-year-old child wants a cell phone, so what do you do when they ask for one? And what about your teenagers who demand one? First you must decide if you are going to get them one.

Cons: Several children's advocacy groups are worried about:

Children’s safety, privacy, education and health.
Privacy advocates worry that pedophiles may use cell phones to contact children.
Cell phones could become a vehicle for showing advertisements to children, ultimately reaching their parents’ wallets.
Advocates also worry about potential health risks: radiation, brain tumors …
Pros:

Cell phones let you stay in touch with your child almost all the time.
Having a cell phone can help you easily get in touch with your kids in case of an emergency.
In the event of a real tragedy, like a school shooting or terrorist attack, a cell phone can be your only lifeline to your kids.
A cell phone can also be a way to stay in touch with your teen who might be driving … the GPS feature can help you figure out where your teen is at all times.
The cell phone industry does offer some helpful options. Check with your current cell phone carrier to see if they offer any type of parental control on their cell phones.