These days, kids start asking for their own phone before they’ve stopped believing in the tooth fairy. Getting a mobile phone is the new symbol of independence, but with it comes great responsibility. Just like the Internet, it is a new challenge for parents to keep their kids safe. Plus, we all know that it can cost two years’ worth of allowances if they lose it or run up the bill.

Set the Ground Rules

The great thing about your kid wanting a mobile phone so desperately is that you can completely control them with it. For example, “Clean your room right now, young lady, or you lose your phone for the rest of the day.” To them, being apart from their phone is worse than being stranded on a desert island. Because of this, you can set ground rules up front, and they’ll agree to every last one. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• You must always answer the phone when a parent or guardian calls
• You must never share personal information with strangers
• You must never use it while driving
• You are responsible for any overages on the account – whether it’s minutes, texting or data charges
• You are responsible for the repair or replacement of the phone if it’s broken or lost
• You must babysit your little brother, wash the car every week, change the litter box, mow the lawn, clean out the garage, etc. (hey, take advantage – now’s the time!)

Phones & Plans

Getting the right plan is key. Family plans, pay-as-you-go, internet, texting, how many minutes … there’s so much to consider, and choosing the right plan will not only help your pocketbook, but will directly impact the level of tween angst in your house.

The first thing you need to consider is how your child will be using the phone. If you have an 8-year old, and you want him to have it for emergencies, a pay-as-you-go flip phone might be the best solution. But if you’ve got a 14-year old who already has calluses on her thumbs, then be sure to get a plan with unlimited texting.

Smartphones like the iPhone or Android phones are the coolest things right now, but they require a data plan to get access to the Internet. They’re also typically tied to a specific carrier (although the new Samsung Galaxy S Series is an exception to that rule). Be sure to look at your local coverage area before your teenager runs out and gets that hot new phone that might not get a signal in your neighborhood. And if you don’t get the right data plan, you could be in for a shock when you see how many megs your darling daughter downloaded and how much that depleted her college fund.

Most carriers have some sort of family plan where you can have multiple phones on the same line, unlimited minutes when calling each other and share a pool of minutes. Because individual plans all have their base access fee, putting two or more phones on the same plan automatically saves you money.

However, if your kid just needs the phone for the occasional check-in, it might be more economical to get him a prepaid phone. With prepaid, or pay-as-you-go phones, there is no long-term contract and you only pay for the minutes you use. Not only can they be useful for kids who won’t use them much, they are also great for kids who need to learn how to budget their talk time. Most prepaid phones come with minutes already in the package, and then they can purchase additional minutes as they need them. For more info on choosing the right phone and plan, click here.

Keep ‘Em Safe

Although kids think getting a cell phone is a right of passage, it is also a great way to keep tabs on them. There are some plans that offer a “locator” service, which help you track where your kid is at any time. You can set up geographic limits, so you get alerted when they go outside a certain area, or set up times when they should be at certain places, so you know if they got home from school safe and sound. This only works with GPS-enabled phones, so if you want this feature, make sure you get a compatible phone.

Many carriers also offer parental controls, where you can block numbers, limit talk time and restrict what time of day they use the phone. There are also content filters, so if your kid has a smartphone, you can control the types of sites they visit on the Internet. And for the new drivers in the family, some carriers even offer roadside assistance.

And of course, education is key. Getting your child a cell phone is the perfect time to have a nice long talk about safety. Distracted driving, cyber bullying, inappropriate texts and communicating with strangers are all realities for kids these days, but if you lay it all out on the line for them you can open up those lines of communication and keep them safe.