Protecting your child from the dangers that exist in bothonline and offline computer activity seems overwhelming to many parents. Reports of cyberbullying, predatory behavior and uncensored content are just the beginning. Kids can also grow obsessive about gaming or social networking at the expense of their schoolwork, not to mention to ongoing threat of computer damage from viruses and malware your child may invite with excessive downloading. Education and communication are two effective means to mitigate dangerous behavior, but software solutions provide an added layer of peace for worried parents.
Step 1
Designate a family computer for your kids to use, and put it in a well-trafficked area of your home. Don't allow bedroom or otherwise private computer use on a laptop or tablet.
Step 2
Assign individual accounts to each of the children in the home. You can do this in Windows by clicking "Start" and selecting "Control Panel" from the task pane. In the dialogue that appears, select "User Accounts." Give each child his own username and password, and tell them not to share passwords with siblings.
Step 3
Select "Set Up Parental Controls for Any User" from the control panel after you've created user accounts. You can limit the amount of time each user is allowed to be logged in per day. You can also limit access to games and other programs. You can block websites, or just designate websites you'd like to keep track of.
Step 4
Check the box next to, "Enable Activity Reports" in the Parental Controls dialogue box. This powerful tool collects data on your child's computer usage including web browsing habits, programs opened, files downloaded and more. Be honest with your children about the existence of the reports. If they know that their activity is leaving a paper trail, they'll be more likely to make wise decisions. They also won't find out later that you've been peeking at their activity and resent you for it.
Step 5
Install Windows Live Family Safety to augment the built-in parental controls. Windows Live Family Safety includes more robust web browsing control, and it's free from Microsoft.
Step 6
Download a spy program if you are concerned that your child is bypassing controls, or you feel that you have a problem that must be investigated secretly. This could involve dangerous online relationships, discussions of drug use or other destructive behavior or illegal activity. Norton, the antivirus giant, makes a program called Family Safety, but it doesn't allow clandestine monitoring. Spy Anywhere, Keystroke Spy and Sentry PC are three examples of such programs. They can be accessed through online portals that give you real-time information from a remote location.
Tips and Warnings
- Become your kids' friends on social networking sites if you allow them to use them.
Things You'll Need
- Spy software (optional)
