Nowadays teenagers want everything that adults have: iPhones, cars and credit cards. They consider plastics as a symbol of long-wanted maturity and unlimited purchasing power. But the lack of credit card management skills can lead them into financial troubles. Trying to protect their kids, many parents hold out on helping their children apply for a credit card. However, many financial experts say that one of the smartest things you can do as a parent is to assist your kids in obtaining a credit card in the late teenage years, and then help them understand how to use it wisely.