Use Parental Controls To Limit Time Kids Spend On The Computer
Parents are always looking for ways to keep their kids safe. Windows Vista has added a cool feature called Parental Controls which are very easy to use which help when it comes to computers and the Internet. About a year ago I covered how to use the controls to filter unfavorable Websites.
While it is great to have your children use and learn the latest technology, spending too much time with video games and surfing the Web can be unproductive. Ultimately it is the parent’s responsibility to monitor their children’s activities but today’s tip will show you how to utilize a great tool in Vista to help out. This feature of Vista actually allows you to control the time a user can access their account.
Open Control Panel and click on Set up parental controls for any user.
Next, choose your kids account … or whoever you want to limit time on.
Make sure Parental Controls are on then click on Time Limits under Windows Settings.
Now simply select the the schedule for time allowed on the Internet and when it will be blocked then click OK. That is all there is to it!
While you child is logged into their account there will be an icon in the lower right corner by the clock showing Parental Controls are enabled. Also, as the time gets closer for them to get off the computer, balloon notifications will appear in periodically telling them how much time is left.
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Cool.
Thanks for telling us these useful tips on how to use our computers better.
I see you're using an avatar for your user account that doesn't come with Vista. At least, that one didn't come with mine. Can you tell us how to use one that isn't in the default set, and where to get the little guitar playing guy?
Finally, I can get my girlfriend off the computer to spend time with me!
@Just Me: Just click your picture on the start menu, click Change your Picture and click "Browse for more pictures…".
For the picture you can just right click on the one at the top and select the save option.
Thanks for the helpful info. Is there anything like this built in to earlier versions of Windows (2000)?
I used this to control the kids at home, and it works all right. I now know what music they're playing, and all they are doing online.
I prefer to have professional stand-alone tools with easy-to-use interface. Actually, there are not so many parental control software support Vista 64-bit. But the one I use works just perfect on my x64 machine Ez Internet Timer.
Using this software I can schedule the number of hours each of my children can use per day.
Thank you John, I just downloaded Ez Internet Timer, that is exactly what I was looking for a long time. I have Windows Vista 64 bit and not too many programs support it. This one works just perfect and it’s also very very user friendly. Pretty much the same price as the others, but more comprehensive… I don’t know, I just liked them more and stuck with them.
I cannot believe Microsoft provided such a limited solution. My number one problem is simply limiting the time the kids use the computer, and not so much as when. I guess they want to support the utility companies.
Why does'nt Microsoft provide a decent kid's time control program ? I just want to limit the number of hours they can spend during school days and a different number of hours during non-school days. You simply can't do that with what Microsoft has here.
I tried using this solution a few years back. It seems that Microsoft didn't change much from whatever OS I was using then (Windows 95?). My kids found a way to access the admin account (despite the password) and kept changing the clock, so as to get more time. I agree with Lisa & Mr. Walsh. The best solution seems to be buying one of the monitoring software programs. I have just begun to research, but there are several that seem to be good picks.
Janet, we had the exact same problem with kids changing clock time. We use Piranha Designs Time Monitor to limit our kids times and it will lock their account when they try changing the time. Its easy to use and keeps my somewhat tech-savvy teenagers from circumventing it.
The website is http://www.time-monitor.com
Hi Lisa & Janet,
the day limit is probably the most important. And also to define time your kids to take short breaks. I would suggest you to try Children's Care
But this trick with the clock is nice…they are really creative
Try the feature "Independent internet time" in Children's Care. Probably it will help.
Use the newly published: AlaTimer.
This one limits login time per child per day. It disables even the Task Manager for them!
Changing the computer time will not work!
One can set the time limit and modify it "online" using any computer on the network and of course this can be set on the same computer. It's password protected, so your kids cannot do anything about it. At the end of the pre-set time, a friendly Fred Flintstone tells your kid to logoff and if the kid does not, it is automatically done! My teenagers don't fight anylonger over the computer time (we have only one computer for the two).
I have tried it and it worked on my Windows 2000 and Windows XP too!
Try it free (14 days) and afterwards pay by PayPal and register by email. It's easy!
The best download link is the author's (you can probably find it all over the Internet too):
http://www.shanit.com/download/AlaTimer2010.zip