I think it is wise to not give young kids cell phones, but when you do decide it would be nice to have a way to communicate with them, if don't want them wasting their time online or doing other crazy stuff, you can get a Gab phone.  It looks like a smart phone but doesn't hook to the internet.  It does calls, text (if you want), calendar, alarms, and other basic features.  It is cheaper for the phone and the service than most phones.  It is a good option if you want to protect your kid.