These cards can't replace the cash your teens need for walking around. But they're useful for kids who get an allowance for buying clothes, books, gasoline and other large purchases. The most popular kid cards will be those with a national brand, such as Visa. The card will be refused if the account runs out of cash. So your child can't go on the sort of spending spree that credit cards allow.
Parents apply for the card, which is linked to their bank account.
You give your child spending money, by shifting funds from your account into the PocketCard account. If your child has money from gifts or modest earnings, you can deposit it in your own account and move it from there into PocketCard. PocketCard sends you the monthly statements, so you can see what your kid has bought. You can even be notified by Web, each time the card is used. It's strictly a shopping card.