If your child under 15 has asked you to get him or her a cell phone, you are in good company. The number of parents weighing the pros and cons of buying a cell phone for their kids (ages 15 and younger) has been growing exponentially in the past five years. According to a study, close to 50% of kids today own wireless phones-an even split that illustrates the dilemma most parents are facing in this regard.

Kids and Cell Phones: What Parents Like

On one hand, parents see a cell phone as a valuable way to be in touch with their children in case of emergencies big and small. If your daughter's soccer practice is running late or if you are stuck in traffic on your way to picking her up, the kid or you can just pick up the phone and let the other know. And if you are a particularly apprehensive parent, a cell phone equipped with GPS technology enables you to monitor your kid's whereabouts at all times.

Many parents also see a cell phone for kids as a valuable tool to teach how to handle an added responsibility. The size of the wireless bill, the list of phone calls and whether the child stays in touch when he or she is supposed to are all things that can be used by the parents to teach accountability.

The Main Concerns About Getting Kids Their Own Cell Phones:

On the liability side, a cell phone can give the kid freedom to communicate with anyone, posing similar risks as the Internet--text messaging from strangers, cyber bullying, calls to or from unwanted parties or simply excessive distractions. Then there is the more mundane factor of cost: since children do not yet fully understand the value of money, they can easily rack up cell-phone bills of jaw-dropping proportion--unless some sensible precautions are put into place.