Thinking about a kid-friendly smartphone? Here are your options.

It's not easy being a parent, and tech hasn't really made it any easier. A clear example: Deciding whether or not your child needs their own phone.

While most experts suggest keeping kids offline and away from screens as much as possible, that's not always an option, with children increasingly using phones and tablets in school environments. Your child may be young and only need a quick way to communicate while out of the house, or you may have a teen looking for a bit more device freedom.