How wired is your family?

All Moms and Dads have cell phones, right? Of course they do! But what age is appropriate for kids to have their own cell phones?

More families are having to deal with the idea of kids and cell phones as our society becomes more wired. Parents who might expect to hear "I'd like an American Girl doll" around the
time of birthdays are instead being surprised with "I want a cell
phone, please."

We all know that giving a cell phone to a child, kid, tween or teen is a bit of a gamble. "Is he old enough?" "Will she bankrupt me with text charges and overage fees?" "Is it
safe?" These are all questions that run through a parent's mind.

Moms! Tell us how you've dealt with this issue. Do you set down rules in the family about what age Susie, Ben, and Kelly can have their
own cell phone? Do they have to have a summer job or earn high grades
to keep it? Do you talk about responsibility and fees, and what happens
if they exceed their allowed minutes or texts? What kind of cell phone
and service plan is best for kids?