OT: A program to limit children's computer time

[President_Elect_Shang]

That’s what I thought he was saying. I took the TV and computer out of the one kid’s room. We have three but to maintain some control we limit it to only one room with both the TV and computer.

I put them both back in after about a six month trial period as mentioned in the prior post.

[Suicide Junkie]

Ah.
So its just internet on the one PC in the living room then?

That probably makes it a LOT easier to keep the other PCs clean from spyware and viruses and junk.

[Thermodyne]

Hmmm………………

With my kids, I though that the PC - TV issue was part of something bigger. Maturing and learning responsibility, adapting to living within the reasonable rules of society. And being trusted to mind these rules without totalitarian supervision.

TV time was directly coupled to grades, as were driving and dating later on. Penalties were spelled out and then set in stone. With the PC, they were given rules and its acceptable use was explained in great detail. Then they were put on the honor system. I used the logs to spot check their on time and check the content of their web browsing. Web access was a little different back then, and much safer for kids. We used Prodigy for a portal, and they had some content filtering tools. Back then, all I had was a little NT server and really didn’t have a lot of fine control. But today, with a little 2K or FreeBSD server, I could control what they saw, when they saw it and filter mail going in and out. I’ll never forget the weekend I put the first firewall up at home. My youngest came in and wanted to know why her chat client wouldn’t work. So I said I would fix it. I consoled into the fire wall then vnc’d into her system to see what port it was running over. When she saw her desktop come up she quickly decided that she really didn’t need the chat anymore.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Umm no, the internet is on the one PC in the kids bedroom there is no PC in the living room. The computer I use (the one I am on now) is downstairs with a wireless network connecting theirs to the internet. The hub is here with me; in fact I can rest my hand on it as I type. So when I can’t monitor them I take the antenna out of the back of their computer and the walls/floor that separate the hub and their computer physically do the rest.

As for the TV they have a 29” flat in the room, my TV the 43” plasma is in the living room. We use it as the Bose system is best for movies etc. I do control their TV some with the parental lockout feature and I didn’t put a converter on it so they only get the basic channels.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Thermodyne said:
With my kids, I though that the PC - TV issue was part of something bigger. Maturing and learning responsibility, adapting to living within the reasonable rules of society. And being trusted to mind these rules without totalitarian supervision.

I agree, which is why I gave them back the single TV and PC.

[Suicide Junkie]

Makes lots of sense.

It is very nice to hear about smart people.

[Asmala]

Thanks for the link Thermodyne.

Guys, I agree your thoughts about the program but, well, they aren't my kids after all.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Suicide Junkie said:
It is very nice to hear about smart people.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say smart; however, thank you for the compliment. I know you where directing that at all parents but I am addressing it for me. Personally smart seems strong as this is still a learning process, always learning and adjusting. At one time I honestly thought what I learned from the oldest I could apply to the next two; but (and there always seems to be a but), that was back in the beginning days and since then I have realized that each and every one of these wonders of life we call children are individuals from the first day they are born! Don’t get me wrong I am not saying nothing applies from one to the next. To be clearer I am saying that the basics apply but the fine details need to be worked out from one child to the next.

Ah, so SJ I think I may have just confused you. If you have kids of your own you will know just what I am saying. If you don’t have children yet than don’t let me or anyone else say something to give you second thought. Kids are the greatest challenge in the world but with such a huge challenge comes incredible reward on so many levels there is simply no possible way I can express it all in words!

[Suicide Junkie]

The same solution doesn't work on every problem, but hey, you got things to work.
And that's good enough for me.