The latest item on my fifth grader’s “need to have” list is a cell phone.

Many of his friends already have one. In the past I always felt that cell phones for kids was a luxury, but as he becomes more independent I can see that it is a necessity.

The main benefit of having cell phones for kids is knowing that you can reach your child and he can reach you at any time. As my son enters middle school he will be spending more time away from home (activities, spending time with friends, etc.) And, let’s face it, because of cell phones - pay phones are nowhere to be found.

Some secondary benefits of cell phones for kids are access to 911 should they need it and the GPS capability of some cell phones so that parents can keep tabs on where there children are.

Of course, with the pros come the cons. As with anything, there need to be ground rules. In addition to making and receiving calls, cell phones come with a large menu of other services from text messaging and cameras to music downloads and internet access. Naturally, these services are not free and if you don’t watch out - your cell phone bill could rival your mortgage payment.

Phone insurance should also be considered. Cell phones for kids are easily broken or lost.

An alternative to purchasing a full featured cell phone for kids is using a cell phone created especially for kids. These phones offer some parental controls ranging from limiting the phone numbers that calls can be made to and received from. But these phones can be difficult to program and are often not viewed as “cool” by middle schoolers, although they may be ideal for younger children. New cell phone companies, like Kajeet which was recently reviewed by washingtonpost.com, are cropping up to meet the needs of tweens and are offering more grown up type phones.

Clearly, this is an area that I must research further. I know that my cell carrier offers family cell phone plans that I can take advantage of. A cell phone could make an excellent fifth grade graduation gift.

Thankfully, I am only facing fifth grade graduation and the minor issue of cell phones for kids. For those of you facing high school graduation, Char at Weary Parent offers a review of a book humorously called Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, 2E.