According to the National Institute on Media and the Family, something like 200 million people own cell phones in the United States. Almost three-quarters of American households have at least one, and many have three to five. About half of teens aged 13 to 16 have one. As more forms of media continue to converge in cell phones, one of the challenges parents face is that of monitoring and keeping track of their kids' media use. Small, hand-held screens make it harder to "watch what your kids watch." That's why the National Institute on Media and the Family says it's important to stay ahead of the trends and talk with your kids about their cell phone use. Two of the most enforced rules by parents I have spoken with are: No phones at the dinner table and not allowing their child to have their cell phone after an agreed upon time at night. Parents should also consider the following tips adapted from the Institute on Media and the Family:

Cell phones and Music
Many phone companies are launching features where your favorite songs are stored right alongside your contacts. Because of this parents should consider that:

• Buying music online can be expensive - help your kids create a music budget.
• It is easier to "impulse buy" when you can buy music online straight from your cell phone. Talk to your kids about how and when to buy music.
• Ask your kids what they are listening to on their phones. Try to listen to it as well when you can!

Cell phones and the Internet

• It can still be very expensive to access the Internet - resulting in cell phone bills kids and parents weren't planning on. If you do allow Internet access on phones, set limits to online time.
• Kids can download inappropriate messages or pictures off the Internet and send them to their friends. Talk about cell phone "netiquette."
• Review the cell phone bill with your child - making sure the expenses are what you had both planned on.

Cell Phones and Text Messenging
Texting is probably one of the most mainstream cell phone activities among young people and more than 73 percent of teens use it regularly. Parents should consider the following:

• Text messaging can be very expensive and take up lots of time. Set limits and encourage your kids to communicate with their friends in other ways too.
• Some kids use their phones to spread mean messages or to intimidate other kids. Talk to your kids about cyber bullying.
• Text messages can become pretty lewd and inappropriate because the medium has fewer social constraints. Talk to kids about text etiquette and manners.
• Know, support and talk to your kids about following their school's rules on cell phones and texting.
• Don't allow your child to send text messages while at the wheel of a car.

Cell phones and cameras
Personal privacy is harder to find when people can snap pictures quickly and easily on their phones.

• Talk to your kids about appropriate and inappropriate camera use.
• Talk to your kids about the consequences of putting incriminating or inappropriate pictures and videos on public sites like YouTube or MySpace.
• Make sure your kids know to not send personal photographs online to people they don't know.

Don't forget to remind your kids not to share their cell phone number online, especially to people they don't know, even if they have been talking with them for a while in a chat room or Instant Messaging. Many parents choose to charge their child's phone overnight

Cell phones are a great convenience for the entire family, but as technology advances they can also become an addictive distraction. Parents will do well to discuss, establish and enforce family rules when it comes to cell phone usage.

Rich Batten is the father of four, a certified family life educator and a family and consumer science agent for Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. View Rich and news anchor Natalie Tysdal's interview on this topic on the CW2's website.