Personal money-management website Mint.com suggests recently that responsible parents should give their kids credit cards—possibly starting as young as middle school. The website says a credit card will help children master responsible spending habits and give parents the chance to teach them some valuable lessons.
It’s absolutely true that kids should learn about how a credit card works and how to use it responsibly. But the idea that they need a card of their own to practise this is questionable.
Yes, credit cards are a teaching tool, but it’s the time you spend educating them about money management that does the teaching, not the piece of plastic. Sit down with your child—here we are referring to teens and walk them through your credit card statements. Point out important things like the due date, late fee warning, and APR (年贷款利率).
If you have good credit, adding a child as an authorized user onto one of your credit cards also provides teachable moments. Allow kids to use the card to make specific purchases and require their participation in payment.
Since the card is still in your name, you can take them off it at any point and cut off their access if they're not able to handle the responsibility.
Another option is to set them up with an account at a local bank that offers free use of a debit card (借记卡). Unlike credit card, the debit card has no overdraft (透支) function.
Children can only use the card to pay for things and the money is taken directly from their bank account. If the account is empty, the worst that will happen is the card being declined at a cash register.
Why does Mint.com advise parents to give middle school kids credit cards?

A．To leave their kids financially independent.

B．To help their kids form good spending habits.

C．To teach their kids' how to save pocket money.

D．To strengthen the relationship with their kids.

The author considers a credit card as a teaching tool because ______.

A．it motivates teens to ask their parents for less financial support

B．it helps teenagers to know some basic knowledge of credit cards

C．it contains detailed financial information on the card surface

D．it offers parents the chance to teach kids to manage money

What is the purpose of adding kids as credit card authorized users?

A．To avoid extremely high overdraft fees.

B．To encourage them to share household expenses.

C．To teach them to be responsible credit card users.

D．To help them pay close attention to their bank account.

What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A．Further information about the debit card.

B．The overdraft functions of a debit card.

C．More disadvantages of credit cards.

D．The kids' attitude towards a credit card.