About 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have phones, according to a Pew Internet and American Life Project study. It's not just that kids want one, a lot of parents want them to have them so we can reach them more easily. They also are excellent discipline tools. Got a kid getting acting up? Threaten to take away his cell phone and watch him turn into an angel. Want to teach a kid money skills? Let her earn the money she needs to pay for her cell phone or those extra texting minutes she wants.

Whoa, Momma! blog shares four tips from Metro PCS for parents to consider when buying a cell phone.