Choosing a Cell Phone for Your Child

By Sharon Miller Cindrich

Q: I’m ready to buy my child a phone, but I’m overwhelmed by the choices. There are so many phones on the market! How do I choose?

Wading through a sea of cell phones can be confusing, but thanks to the variety of mobile features and plans, you are sure to find the right fit for your family.

If you have younger kids, choose a phone created with kids in mind – Disney Mobile offers a minutes manager, GPS locator software, and call control features to limit kids’ phone usage. Firefly Wireless offers a pin-protected address book and an emergency button, with large call buttons that call pre-programmed numbers. These phones can cost a bit more, but they are designed with features that appeal specifically to kids and their parents.

For tweens and teens, I recommend a pay-as-you-go phone. These phones cost as little as $19.99 and generally don’t require a lengthy contract. Because you pre-pay fo minutes, kids can’t rack up hundreds of dollars in text messaging costs or download costs. These phones are pretty bare bones – no camera or video capabilities, but often designed with teens in mind and loaded with cool screensavers and a few games. My daughter bought Virgin Mobile’s Oyster, and the cool screen saver and pay-as-you-go plan met all her needs.

Many families are offered special discounts on additional phones through their current mobile carrier. Family phone plans can be a good idea for older teens who can contribute to the bill and are mature enough to follow the guidelines, but families with young children should consider whether or not a family plan is really a value.

Many family phone agreements offer a free phone (or phones) with a family plan, which can be tempting; however, these phones often require the commitment of a one- or two-year contract, an activation fee for the new phone, and, if you decide to switch carriers or your child loses her phone, you may pay big penalties. Also, hundreds of shared minutes a month may look like a great value, but may not be worth the few times your child calls you for a pick up from a friend’s house. And deep discounts for nights and weekends may not be worth it if your child calls you every day after school during the week.

To compare plans, visit www.LetsTalk.com, which offers detailed information, consumer reviews and phone support.

Sharon Miller Cindrich is a mother of two and the author of E-Parenting: Keeping Up with Your Tech-Savvy Kids.