It might seem unthinkable for those who grew up before the Facebook generation, but cell phones are quickly going from something seen as an unnecessary luxury to a useful necessity. But while some parents might balk at the idea of cell phones for kids, you have to remember that it’s a communication device that will let you keep tabs on an increasingly mobile generation. So whether your kids are out at the pool with friends, or they’re spending time after school for practice, cell phones for kids let them keep in touch with you so that you don’t have to worry about them.

But, and let’s be honest here, you don’t want to pay as much for a cell phone and plan for a kid as you do for an adult. Kids don’t need unlimited text and talk, much less data packages. No, phones for kids tend to be a bare bones package, giving them enough to send texts and make calls when it’s necessary. This means that your plan could end up running as little as $5 a month with some providers, especially if you have a pay-as-you-go style of phone where a minute of talk could run you only 15 cents. Even unlimited plans, for those that have really chatty moments with their kids, can be found for $50 to $65. Of course, depending on your cell phone provider, there might be cheaper options available to you, such as getting your child

a limited extension on your own plan so that you can monitor their usage while still giving them responsibility.

Cell phones in the modern age have become a tool of trust for kids. On the one hand they are shiny, electronic gadgets that aren’t, strictly speaking, necessary for the daily responsibilities of young people. On the other hand a cell phone allows you to keep in touch with your kids while still allowing them to go out and do things as they grow up into young adults. It also frees you up as the parent from having to watch over your children’s shoulders everywhere they go. It also teaches children to manage their own cell phones, keeping them charged, watching their minutes and counting their texts. And if you have older children you could also transfer the ownership so that the child pays for their own cell. Phones for kids: in the end it’s a win-win situation for everyone concerned!