How to Control Your Child's Computer Access
Computers are very common these days, and each new generation becomes more and more adept at using technology. To prevent children from having too much access or spending too much time on the computer every day, parental control programs and applications are available to monitor and restrict the use of everything from how your child accesses the Internet to how much time is spent on the computer each day.
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Instructions
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Windows Operating Systems
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Make sure you have a child safety program installed on the computer. Microsoft provides a free program called Windows Live Family Safety that you can install on your computer, but there are also many programs you can buy instead. You can look up reviews and comparisons for software online if you decide to use a paid program. Remember to look for programs that control both Internet and computer time, as many will only control Internet access.
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Decide what applications your child may access, what websites are allowed and how much time you would like to give your child on the computer every day. Many programs let you set specific times for access, or let you specify how much time total your child gets per day or per week. Discussing these new restrictions with your child to keep him on the same page may be beneficial.
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Make sure your program is functioning correctly. Test it by accessing the Internet and attempting to visit sites you have blocked, and by attempting to log in to your child's account during times that she is not allowed to access the computer. It's important to make sure everything works before letting your child use the computer.
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Make certain that there is no way for your child to get around the controls. Password protect your own account and the parental controls admin account so the settings cannot be altered or removed. It is beneficial to give your child a separate user account on the computers you useso they cannot access anything they are not allowed to. If you need assistance, contact the program's technical support line or Windows technical support.
Mac Operating Systems (OS X & Above)
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Access the Parental Control system by creating a new user account for your child. To do this, open System Preferences, click on Accounts, then click on the "+" button, which will give you the prompt to create a new account. From the drop down menu, select "Managed with Parental Controls."
To add parental controls to an account that already exists, simply select the account you wish to add controls to, them check the box that says "Enable Parental Controls" at the bottom of the page. You can then modify the settings from there.
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Unlock your preferences if necessary by clicking on the picture of the padlock and typing in your password. If it is already unlocked, you do not need to complete this portion, but if it is locked, you will not be able to edit any profile settings.
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Edit the profile settings to your discretion. You should see a window with five tabs: System, Content, Mail & iChat, Time Limits and Logs. From each of these tabs you can adjust the settings to your liking.
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Save your changes and test out your controls by accessing your child's account. Make sure that the websites you want blocked are blocked, and that the application time limits are working properly.
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Prevent anyone from editing the settings by securing your own account and making sure no one can access it but yourself. Monitor the use of your child's account by reading the Logs tab and investigate any suspicious activity of websites they may be accessing.
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Tips & Warnings
For any operating system you choose, the company's technical support teams can help walk you through the parental control process, help you make sure your settings are working properly and assist you with your questions.
If your parental control programs come with logs, check them frequently to make sure that your child is accessing only what you want them to, when you want them to. Some children may attempt to get around the controls, so make sure you keep yourself involved and up-to-date on what they are doing.
Remember to keep your passwords safe and hidden. It is recommended that you do not write down your passwords, but if you must, keep them hidden in a place only you know.
