Cell phones, laptops, and tablets are all used to communicate, but is your child being safe online? Washington Police Chief Jim Lester has spent the last 11 years on the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and he’s shared some advice for parents with KCII News. He says it’s important for parents to monitor their children’s online communication and what apps are being used. Keep communication between you and your child open, “And I also encourage parents not to threaten with technology, not to threaten to take away their child’s technology. If they are, you know, being groomed or having conversations with a predator they often times are afraid to share information with their parents in fear that their device is going to be taken away. So I encourage parents to have that communication, and you know, make sure their kids feel safe and comfortable in talking with them if something occurs online that makes the child uncomfortable.”

Another thing Lester recommends is giving kids a break from their phones and laptops each night, “It’s also important on where you’re allowing your kids to use those apps. I suggest and recommend, you know, a night time central charging location. It gives the parents an opportunity to look through the device as well as keeps that device out of the child’s bedroom.”

Lester says that if you do encounter something suspicious on your child’s phone it’s best to contact police or emergency dispatch. He advises people to not forward on any images, and he says do not delete the app or suspicious images or conversations. He says it’s good to take screenshots of those things. And these can help authorities track down the perpetrators.