If you're like me, back-to-school shopping may include buying a first cell phone for a kid who's becoming more independent. And you may, like me, be receiving entreaties from your fledgling phone owner to think smart. That is, to consider buying them a smart phone, or at least one of the many regular cell phones that come with a host of features aimed at younger users, like easy access to social networks and multimedia services. (See more back-to-school news and advice.)

You're forgiven if you cave under the pressure—after all, a two-week family vacation can allow your kid ample, wearying opportunities to plead their pressing need for, say, a phone with the ability to shoot video. (I speak from recent experience.) But I recommend you hold the line, and do what I'm doing for my technology-obsessed 10-year-old daughter: Get a cheap, simple phone with a prepaid plan and see how things go. Here's why.

Read the full Electronics blog post to learn more.