Do You Need to Create Computer Time Limits?

What Does Computer Time Software Do?

This advanced parental control feature allows you the ability to set an Internet limit by creating specific times of the day, and week, when your children are allowed to be on the computer. Adding a software time limit to your children's day means you create unique schedules for each child, so a grammar school student doesn't have to have the same computer access as a senior in high school.

Basically, you limit kids computer time with a PC timer so the time they do spend on the computer is more productive.

Unique computer user names with passwords are created for each of the kids you want to have participate in managed computer time. User accounts can be created on multiple computers, or on the same computer. Time control software can be especially helpful in households where children are sharing one computer.

Kids Computer Timer: Time Management Problem Solved

Some of the problems solved by having your children on a regular computer schedule include:

• Fighting or arguing over who is going to use the computer.
• It eliminates sneaking on to the computer in the middle of the night or very early in the morning.
• Helps prevent or limit obsessive or addictive computer use.
• Teaches children their own computer time management.
• Clearly distinguishes between computer time used for homework and computer time used for recreation.
• Frees up parent-child homework study sessions and makes it easier to be involved with multiple children in a short period of time.

How to Set a Computer Time Control

The companies that offer this type of service will have an interface similar to the one shown below:

You will be able to create a schedule for each child and generally be able to balance the hours to a number per week. Say you don't think it's a good idea for your first grader to be on the computer more than 10 hours a week.

You would simply check "10 Hours" and create the days and time your first grader can use the computer. Obviously, a high school senior will have a different schedule.

Chances are, you won't get the schedule perfect on the first try, but you might want to explain to your children how the schedule is set up, why you are doing it that way, and let them know you will not make changes for the first week.

At the end of the week, you can discuss fine tuning changes in the schedule for the next week. Teens will be very interested in their schedule. Try to avoid making schedule changes on the fly.

Time Control Limits Can Improve School Grades

Like anything else, when we teach our children responsible Internet usage, we inadvertently free up more time for homework. If you have a teen that spends a significant amount of time on Facebook, or some similar service, you may find your teen will learn to have a healthier more productive respect for their free time. Facebook, for example, can be part of their life, but not their life. Of course, don't expect this in the first week.