What does Parent Time Control Software do?

Computers and the Internet, despite the dangers, are extremely useful tools that can provide a high level of entertainment and education. Sometimes it may be impractical for a parent to sit and watch their child for hours while they do their homework, or parents may still be at work when their kids get home from school. Additionally, some kids are just a bit mischievous and sneak onto the computer late at night to play games or chat with their friends, so what is the solution? Parental time control software will keep kids safe, on task and out of trouble.

Parental time control software generally performs two functions, it can control the amount of time a user can use the computer, Internet or game, and secondly, can control what users are allowed to do while they are using the computer. These programs are not only used by parents but also by libraries, Internet cafés, schools, offices or anywhere in which computer use needs to be managed.

Time Control

Most programs not only control how long a user can use the computer, but also when. For example, you could allow two hours per day of computer use but block out the hours that you are at work and 11pm to 6am, so that your child does not use the computer during unreasonable or unsupervised hours.

Many enable you to set daily, weekly or monthly limits and allow a “study mode” for homework use. Time limits can be set for specific programs as well, so game use can be limited while time in Microsoft Word could be unlimited.

Program Control

This feature allows parents to choose what programs can be used by a specific user. This function can restrict specific web pages, prohibit downloads and block programs such as games as well as deny access to the control panel. For example, if your teen is doing homework, Word, Microsoft Student, their school website and .gov, .edu or .org research web pages could be activated, while chat, games, MySpace, unapproved webpages and email could be blocked. This also helps by limiting distractions, so your kid can stay on task while utilizing the positive applications of the computer.

In this site, you’ll find articles related to parental time control software, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side–by–side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which software is right for your family. At TopTenREVIEWS — We do the research so you don’t have to.™

What to Look for in Parent Time Control Software.

Look for a program that gives the level of control you want, some software controls only total time, while others offer different combinations of time control, such as by the hour, day, week or month. Secondly, look for a program that gives you the kind of application control you need, such as Microsoft Windows, control panel, programs and Internet restrictions.

We looked at 12 programs, compared their features, tested their effectiveness and related our data in the matrix above. We also looked at customer support and whether the software is easy to use.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate Parent Time Control Software:

• Feature Set – We looked at the variety of features available as well as their helpfulness. The top products not only monitor access and time, but also support restrictions on additional items such as programs, games, chat and downloads and provide reporting.
• Ease of Use – This evaluates how easy a program is to use.
• Ease of Installation/Setup – The best programs are quick to download and don’t have problems during the download or set up process.
• Technical Support/Help – Product support is extremely important, we looked at whether the product comes with a user guide as well as customer support contact methods such as email forms, telephone numbers or online documentation such as FAQs, forums and tutorials.
• Time Control Effectiveness – Time control software should control access and time limits to the computer, Internet or other applications exactly how the administrator (parents) set them.