Is a pay as you go phone a good option for kids who don't need a lot of data?

I’m thinking about getting my son a basic phone since he barely uses data or apps, but I still want to track his calls and texts without a big monthly bill.

Yeah, pay-as-you-go is a solid move for a kid who just needs basic communication - low cost, less screen addiction drama. Most carriers let you see call/text logs right in your account dashboard online, so tracking is pretty easy without needing any extra app.