Although the smallest of the house increasingly begin to use all kinds of devices at an earlier age, the truth is that it is convenient to control the content they have access to and the time they spend in front of the mobile or even the computer. Next, we will show how to lock the computer so that children cannot use it at certain times.
Currently, it may sometimes be necessary for our children to use the home computer, however, this does not mean that we must establish a limit of daily hours of use . In this sense, Windows 10 has greatly improved its parental control system, so that we will be able to block the computer for children for as long as we believe appropriate.
The truth is that the most drastic measure is to put a username and password on the computer and that only we are the ones who know how to enter. Of course, this implies that we will always have to be with them so that they can use the computer.
That is very good if we want to be continuously controlling the time of use and everything that they do on the PC, however, there are different ways to restrict the use of the computer to a child and the content that can be accessed without the need for us doing it in person.
How to control your children’s computer use time in Windows 10
One of the options that the Microsoft operating system allows us is to create an account for each child . In this way, we can control everything they do on the PC and limit the hours of use thanks to the options offered by the Windows 10 parental control . Therefore, the first thing to do is create an account for the child.
To create a user account for our son, the first thing we have to do is open the Windows 10 configuration page and go to the Accounts> Family and other users option to click on the Add Family member option . To access this option, you must have previously signed in with a Microsoft account on the computer. Next, we will be asked if we want to add a minor or an adult, therefore, we select the Add a minor option and enter the child’s email address.
In the event that you still do not have an email address, click on the option The person I want to add does not have an email address and the wizard will automatically open to create a free Microsoft email account.
We indicate the address of the minor’s email account and then a message will be sent to accept the invitation sent to be part of the family and to be able to apply parental control over that account. From the settings page, we click on the link Manage family settings online and we will access our Microsoft account page to configure parental control over our child’s account that we just created. From there, we will be able to control their activity on the computer and manage all the permissions on what they can and cannot do, see or how long they will be able to use the PC.
One of the most interesting functions of parental control in Windows 10 is the one that allows us to set the time we want our children to be able to use the computer. To do this, we look for our son’s account and click on the option Time in front of the screen . We select Windows 10 and then we will be shown a panel in which we will be able to indicate the hours in which we want to lock the computer so that our child cannot use it.
By clicking on one of the days that appears in the panel, a window will open in which we can indicate from what time to what time our child will be able to use the computer. The hours outside the established range will be the time in which the computer will be locked so that it cannot be used by the child.
How to restrict the use of certain applications on your computer to children in Windows 10
From the Microsoft Family page we also have access to restrict certain content for our children’s accounts, that is, we will be able to block the use of certain applications installed on the computer. With our son’s account selected, we click on the Content Restrictions option and then all the available options will be shown.
There we will find the possibility to indicate if we want the approval of an adult to be needed to buy things or use applications, games and inappropriate multimedia content . Within the applications, games and multimedia content section, we will be able to indicate the applications and games that we want to allow according to their age classification.
A little further down, we find a list of applications and games allowed or those that we want their use by our child to be always restricted on the computer. Finally, we can also activate the blocking of inappropriate websites. In this section, we will be able to indicate the sites or web pages that we want them to visit, being able to establish these sites as the only ones they will be able to access. In this way, we will be restricting the rest of the sites.
This way we will be able to control exactly what we want our children to be able to see or use on the computer, as well as the hours they will be able to use it. A way to block our children’s computer so that they cannot use it when they want, spend their idle hours in front of the screen, as well as make use of all kinds of games, applications or visit certain web pages.
So you can lock your children’s computer so that they cannot use it on Mac
Although the truth is that the Apple environment does not offer us as many parental control settings as Windows 10, we can also set time limits on Mac, restrict the use of certain applications or block access to certain web pages to the smallest of the House.
To do this, we will have to go to the System Preferences and then enter Parental Controls . Once we have filled in the data, we activate the parental controls and that is when we will be able to establish time limits and schedules for children to use the computer, avoid the use of certain applications, filter websites or limit the use of stores of applications, music or books so that only content for children appears. Apple’s parental control also allows you to block your computer to use printers, for example.
Third-party applications to block our children’s computer and control their use
In addition to the Windows 10 and macOS tools themselves, there are also other applications or programs specially designed and developed to offer complete parental control with our children on the computer. In this sense, Qustodio is one of the best applications to control the activity and use of the computer by our children.
It is a parental control software that has a free plan and a premium plan and is available for both Windows and Mac , iOS and Android . It is classified as one of the most advanced and easy-to-use parental control applications, however, with the free version we will have access to a complete control panel from where we can restrict the use of the computer, applications or view certain content remotely.
In addition, in its versions for mobile devices, with Qustodio it is also possible to track calls and text messages on our child’s device, block certain content, control games and other applications, etc. And if that wasn’t enough, it also offers real-time location updates so that you can always know where your child is. Get Qustodio for free from this link to its official website.
Another very valid program for our children to be protected is Virtual BodyGuard . This application has three different parts to contract:
- A Basic Lock module in which we have a control panel, tools to control what our children do on the computer and technical support from the program’s developers.
- There is a Monitoring Plus that includes everything from the basic system adding access to incidents made by the minor.
- And finally, the Premium Monitoring, which is that includes everything that we have described so far and adds the control of social networks.
By having a mobile version, it is capable of keeping an exhaustive control like the one we have mentioned above, but it includes WhatsApp-type messaging applications. They will keep us informed of inappropriate phrases and behavior that is out of the ordinary or ethical so that we can take action.
It is one of the best options for third parties that are currently marketed and highly recommended.
