Blocking internet access during "school hours"

[Ruth in Canada]

We're having a problem with kids wasting time on non-school-related internet stuff when they should be doing math, chemistry, etc. I would like to find a piece of software that blocks internet access on the kids' accounts during school hours. Ideally, it would allow me to override that block if they are doing research--and allow me continue access to the internet during the school day so I can do both work and volunteer work. I don't really need full-blown parental controls--I'm concerned that a more complicated package would slow things down. Please tell me how you've dealt with the "messing around on the internet" problem. (We've tried discussing this issue--Facebook, etc are just too tempting--I feel we need a technical fix.)

[Jean in Wisc]

We're having a problem with kids wasting time on non-school-related internet stuff when they should be doing math, chemistry, etc. I would like to find a piece of software that blocks internet access on the kids' accounts during school hours. Ideally, it would allow me to override that block if they are doing research--and allow me continue access to the internet during the school day so I can do both work and volunteer work. I don't really need full-blown parental controls--I'm concerned that a more complicated package would slow things down. Please tell me how you've dealt with the "messing around on the internet" problem. (We've tried discussing this issue--Facebook, etc are just too tempting--I feel we need a technical fix.)

Go into your control Panel. I have a "Usser Accounts and Family Safety" option and a "Parental Controls" option. I can block out the times when each user cannot access his account. If you cannot find it in your control panel, just use the search option on the Control Panel to see if you have it.

Jean

[Kris]

We're having a problem with kids wasting time on non-school-related internet stuff when they should be doing math, chemistry, etc. I would like to find a piece of software that blocks internet access on the kids' accounts during school hours. Ideally, it would allow me to override that block if they are doing research--and allow me continue access to the internet during the school day so I can do both work and volunteer work. I don't really need full-blown parental controls--I'm concerned that a more complicated package would slow things down. Please tell me how you've dealt with the "messing around on the internet" problem. (We've tried discussing this issue--Facebook, etc are just too tempting--I feel we need a technical fix.)

What OS do you have? On the Vista computer, my son had his own account, and I had parental controls implemented on that, basically blocking internet access during school hours. My own user account had no blocks.
But if you want them to be able to use the computer during school hours, just not on "non-school" things, hum -- I don't know --

:lurk5:

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

You just need to read the user manual (we have a Linksys rounter). I block my kid's access during school hours and have the whole system shut off at night. This keeps those pesky night-walkers from sneaking online while the rest of us sleep.

You can also block specific websites. This has worked very well for us. I've claimed that daddy has it programmed, so I can't change it, sorry!!

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

K

[Julie in CA]

I made each kid their own account, which is only available to them during after school hours.

I made one extra account, named "school", which is available during school hours, but only allows web sites I've approved for school use.

So far, so good! I'm no longer the bad-guy in the computer area, and I no longer find them surfing the net for fun during school hours.

I'm at a loss on what to do with my one computer that doesn't have Vista, though.

[RoughCollie]

I'm at a loss on what to do with my one computer that doesn't have Vista, though.

I used this program with XP:

http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

[SheWhoWaits]

If you happen to have a Mac, Content Barrier does exactly what you are asking. They might have a Windows version. I'm not sure about that. It's a downloadable (but not free) program.

[keptwoman]

I made each kid their own account, which is only available to them during after school hours.

I made one extra account, named "school", which is available during school hours, but only allows web sites I've approved for school use.

So far, so good! I'm no longer the bad-guy in the computer area, and I no longer find them surfing the net for fun during school hours.

I'm at a loss on what to do with my one computer that doesn't have Vista, though.

Thank you. What a sensible suggestion! DS has his own laptop and he mucks about on it when he should be doing school work is very hard. This would absolutely solve it.

[mom2abcd]

We have our computer password protected and only dh and I know the password. You can set the properties to have it protected or not. During the school day it is on and I can type the password in to use the computer myself or let the kids use it.

This comes in handy for many reasons!

[Sharon in MD]

Actually, he recognized the problem this year himself (yes, I knew it was a problem, but I really wanted him to see it himself). He discovered it by accident. One day he left the laptop on the hearth in our kitchen (it becomes the convenient storage spot for books and such) and lo and behold he got his work done so much faster....so now he shuts it and sets it out of reach when he isn't using it.....working great for us and no pesky passwords to deal with.

However, we do have the distinct advantage that we are a one kid school house, so it is very easy to control.

[Moni]

Oh, is this what I have to look forward to :glare: ;)

So far we have a No Computer rule that covers this sort of thing.

Is there a way to hack around this stuff though :confused:

[Ame E.]

The internet connection remains unplugged... unless I give him permission to plug it in.. I check his email and his search history daily and weekly. He knows he is being monitored.. this is a good thing.. His work is actually getting done.