The telephone is convenient both for parents and child. Imagine having a tool which you can keep track of your child's activities every moment of the day!

In reality, however, the cellphone is a toy which children might abuse if they are not properly instructed.

But, rules of usage must be established for the telephone, as many parents have discovered, to their grief!

At the annual Churches Co-operative Credit Union's Parenting Forum under the theme, 'Parenting in a Technologically Aggressive Environment', held last month, presenter Patrice Samuels, chief executive officer of Rescue Caribbean, discussed the ground rules which will make the cellular phone less harmful.

It may take a bit of your time, but rule one, Patrice Samuels says, is that parents should monitor the usage of calls and messages.

Text messaging

Similar to instant messaging, text messaging is used on cellphones. Parents should also keep track of what kind of conversations their children are having and with whom.

Parents should also keep track of the hours spent on the telephone. A cut-off time for calls should be recommended.

The cameras on some phones can be used for pornography, Patrice Samuels notes.

With Bluetooth technology, these cameras can be used to transfer pictures and clips to other phones with Bluetooth within the range. Receiving parties may not be the intended recipients.

It is advised that parents should avoid purchasing expensive phones for children, and avoid Bluetooth technology and cameras.

It is an unfortunate truth that some girls and a few boys seem willing to do almost anything to get the telephone they want.

Transactional sex

This includes transactional sex, where some children have sex for the latest cellphones, IPODS, MP3 players, PS3 (games) and cameras.

If you see your children with phones that you have not provided for them, you need to investigate and apply sanctions where necessary.

Children will also sometimes steal from parents and others to buy new gadgets.

If this has happened, it is a good time to teach them the value of honesty, of working for what they want in life, and of waiting for things which they might not be able to afford at this time.