by Joyce Slaton posted in Products & Prizes

With kids headed back to school soon, many parents are struggling with one question: Is it time to get your child a smart phone yet"
On one hand, it's incredibly handy to have a way to stay in touch during the day. You can let them know you'll be late for pickup, see how that cough is progressing, make sure they remember to bring their violin home for lessons today, all of which is difficult to communicate through a busy school secretary and a web of teachers.
On the other, no one wants their child to get obsessed with social media or screens early. We want our kids able to read a real book or talk to a friend instead of staring at a phone.
The answer" "Dumb" phones that allow phone calls and limited messaging. You can get your child when needed -- or she can get to you -- but she's not distracted by the tippity-tapping possibilities of a smart phone that's basically a little computer you keep in your backpack. Here are 5 dumb phone options we like, starting with phones for the youngest kids and graduating to tween options -- and even a couple of bleeding-edge tween-to-teen possibilities at the end.

LG GizmoPal 2
Kids age 4-7 are too young to be trusted with a phone that's all too easy to drop in a toilet or leave in a backpack. The solution" This wearable device that connects with two smartphones, and only two smartphones (one of which must be on the Verizon network). Kids can press a button once t...