How to Use the Child Lock Features on Your TV

If you're a parent concerned about what your child watches on TV, you might not know that all new TVs come with a V-Chip. It's a device that can block programs based on their TV or Motion Picture Association of America ratings. Follow the steps below to use the child lock features on your TV.

Things You'll Need

• Owner's manual
• Remote control

Instructions

1. Find your TV's remote control and owner's manual. Accessing your TV's menu options is easier with a remote.

2. Go to the "V-Chip Setup" section of your owner's manual. This will tell you which remote control buttons to use when navigating your TV's menu.

3. Aim your remote at your TV and press "Menu." Select "V-Chip Setup."

4. Select "MPAA Rating." This will allow you to choose the movie ratings you want to block. This rating and every rating above it will be blocked from view unless the correct password in entered.

5. Lock out TV programs as well. Press "Menu" to exit the menu. Press "Menu" again and select "V-Chip Setup."

6. Select "TV Rating." Choose the lowest TV rating you want to block. This rating and every rating above it will be blocked. You'll also need the password to access any programs from the TV that have a higher rating then the one you selected.

7. Choose the sub-ratings you want to block if they're available. The sub-rating for TV-Y7 is "FV" (Fantasy Violence). The sub-ratings for TV-PG, TV-14, or TV-MA are "D" (Suggestive Dialogue), "L" (Coarse Language), "S" (Sexual Situation), and "V" (Violence).

8. Unblock a rating by returning to the "V-Chip Setup" menu and by selecting the highest MPAA or TV rating. Every rating below that will automatically be unblocked. Keep the code away from your children if you don't want them accessing the channels you've blocked.

Tips & Warnings

• The V-Chip blocks specific shows by their TV ratings only. To block specific channels that you don't want your children to watch, you can purchase a TV channel blocker from a number of retail stores and TVChannelBlocker (see Resources below).

• Find a detailed description of the TV ratings at the FCC website (see Resources below).

• The child lock feature can be turned off at any time with the right password. Make sure you don't let your child find out what your password is. All your work may go to waste.

• The V-Chip doesn't block access to certain programming, like the news or unedited movies on pay channels. You'll have to purchase a more in-depth channel blocker from a retail store to block those programs.