Cellphones for kids

Would you like to stay connected with your school-aged child during the
day but feel a little queasy about giving them an expensive cell phone?
Now age-appropriate mobile phones are available from some providers,
which may give you security and control, and your child freedom and fun!

Beginning this month, parents will be able to buy a new child-friendly
phone called TicTalk from LeapFrog Enterproses. Parents can control
the phone numbers online at MyTicTalk.com, where they can also set
total minutes. Parents prepay $15 for an hour of time in addition to the
$10 activation fee and the $99 cost of the phone.

Firefly is also offering a $99 child-friendly phone. It comes with 30 minutes
of airtime on Cingular's network, and parents can buy additional time
online at FireFlyMobile.com or at Target for 25 cents a minute, in blocks
ranging from $10 to $50.