by Franklyn Cater

In our All Tech Considered conversation today, Omar Gallaga told All Things Considered Co-Host Michele Norris about some of the potential joys and pitfalls of letting your toddler play with your smartphone. But if you have older kids you might relate better to the question - "Should I get my teen or tween a PDA of their own? Maybe it would keep them better organized?"

The San Diego Library has a website that's supposed to help parents make informed decisions about how to let their children interact with technology. In a section on PDAs that the library says is a few years old but still applicable, the site offers a somewhat skeptical view of handhelds for kids.

It allows that PDAs offer students "a fun way to keep track of (and work on) his or her school obligations."

But - "Plenty of avenues for distraction," it says. "One of the goals of the electronics industry is to make the PDA an integrated work and entertainment device."

And, the SD Library points out: "PDAs are also quite fragile—a PDA that is regularly taken into a schoolyard is almost certain to become an expensive paperweight."

Next week, Michele and Omar tackle questions about keeping tabs on your kids' interactions with tech - especially online. Post your questions for them here.