Should your child have a cell phone?

Now that school is back in session, if your child doesn't already have a cell-phone, he is probably asking for one. Everyone else may have one, but does that mean your child should as well? Possibly.

Here are three reasons your child should have a cell-phone:

Emergencies: If there is an emergency and your child needs to get a hold of you, or you need to get a hold of your child, having a cell phone on hand is the easiest way to ensure you are able to contact each other when needed. Be sure to have emergency numbers on speed dial on your child's phone, and talk to them about when the appropriate times to use these numbers are.

Communication: Chances are you aren't able to spend as much time with your child as you might like to, with work and school being what it is. Cell phones allow your child to communicate with you throughout the day and also provide an easy way to inform each other of changed plans or other things that come up. Whether informative or a simple I love you, being able to communicate with your child on a regular basis will bring your family closer together.

GPS: GPS tracking features are a great way to keep tabs on your child's whereabouts for their safety. The majority of cell phone providers have family locator options on their plans, allowing you to always know your child's GPS location.

Does this mean you should just give your child a phone? Not necessarily. Talk to them about your expectations for them in having a cell phone, such as tying an allowance to it, and restrictions such as how many texts they are allowed to send. You want the cell phone to be a tool for communication, not the only means they use to communicate.