Kids computer filter

[Starion]

Hi,
Just wanted to know if theres an easy (and free) way to filter web sites on a kids computer... basically i want to be able to have a list of sites which are able to be seen and block everything else..

Thanks....

[admin]

Have you tried Windows Vista's parental controls ?


Failing that , the government is still supplying them free here I think

[Starion]

that computers only an old shitter.. its only got Windows ME on it lol..

Will take a look at the site you said tho.. Thanks

[BCNZ]

Filters and parental controls are a waste of time, a nuisance (prevent you from surfing legitimate sites) and more often than not, ineffective.

You are better off educating your kids about what they *might* see or what *might* pop up if they end up at the wrong site etc, and showing them how to deal with it if they do.

I believe this is a far better approach as it gives kids the knowledge and ability to deal with things themselves rather than rely on some software which probably won't work anyway.

[Starion]

at the age of 6 I'd rather just limit the computer to going to a few of the kids games sites (warner brothers, etc) that they show on Saturday morning cartoon shows.

Can see the educating them approach turning out bad for some parents too tho, especially when the kid goes to someone else's house, or their other parents house (in the case of divorced parents) and the "educated" kid shows someone else what "bad stuff" is on the internet. try explaining that lol.. "i was only showing him porn so he knows what bad stuff is out there and how to close it" lol..

I'll just block it for now.. cross that bridge some other time..

[BCNZ]

Yup, fair comment. It can be a tricky one for some people I guess. I've not had the same issues with my two girls, who have been using computers since they were 3.

If you only have a couple of sites you want them to go to, put shortcuts to them on the desktop and hide the web browser buttons.
These will take them straight to the sites, and whilst it doesn't stop them from clicking on a link on the site, you'd expect the links to be reasonably Ok.
They can of course enter a different URL in the address bar, but that's where parental supervision comes in.