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I have four children, one out on his own and three teens still at home. Giving a teen a credit card is absurd. They do not have the mental capability to understand the consequences of their actions, I believe it is a part of their brain called the prefrontal cortex.

My kids can't even take out the garbage, clean their rooms, sometimes brush their teeth, do their homework, follow curfew or many other tasks. They forget or make excuses. That would not do with a credit card bill. Unless the companies are expecting the parents to pay for them. And that is absurd too.

Our state has a graduated drivers license because teens are not responsible behind the wheel, so how could they be with invisible money that a credit card represents. Also they are only allowed to work so many hours a week, while attending school and other activities. They really don't make enough money.

They have to be 18 to enter into a legal binding contract. It keeps them and their parents safe. It also helps the parents monitor the teens spending. Just think they could get a cash advance (if they figured it out, our foreign exchange student did) and buy anything they wanted like something illegal for example.

I think it is just asking for more trouble and raising teens is hard enough. Once they are old enough they can get into their old credit problems. Our society is consumed with credit issues today.

Giving a teen a credit card has got to be the credit companies dream come true. I can only imagine what it would be like. First my 13 year old, or would they have to be 16, would be at MckyD's every day. My driving daughter would have a gas credit card and rack that up to the limit.

Then there would be the trips to the mall. And most teens are into sharing. They'd probably buy all their friends clothes, not thinking they'd have to pay it back.

How about the concert tickets or the on line ordering. Teens are in no way mature enough to handle credit. Just the thought of this scares the bageebies out of me! I have three teens, they'd have us in debtors prison, shackled and tarred.

Learn more about this author, Gayle Jackson.
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