Comments on: What can I do about my kids addiction to internet gaming, but they need the internet to study.?

By: Alan with an Eh

Alan with an Eh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:52:28 +0000

NetNanny was recently acquired by ContentWatch (designed for employers). It has session ghosting with remote administration and controls.

If your kid mucks around with it to cover their tracks, you’ll know.

Or create admin and user accounts and disable the port range on your router and firewall for gaming. That would stop them.

By: millercommamatt

millercommamatt — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:28:19 +0000

There are a few things you can do to control your problem. You can block specific ports via your router that are used by Internet games. You can also set your router to block access to certain computers (i.e. your kids’ computers) between certain hours (i.e. bedtime). However, if your kids are computer savvy and have access to the hardware (I’m assuming you don’t keep your router locked up) they will be able to bypass these measures.

You’re best step is to confront your kids and lay down some rules. You’re still the boss. If they break the rules you establish, follow through with punishment. Kids start to act up and go behind your back when you let them get away with stuff so you have to be consistent and vigilant. If they’re persistent with an unhealthy amount of gaming, take away computer access and only allow them online for specific pre-determined reasons and limit access to a finite period of time. The nice thing about laptops is that they can be locked away very easily.

To me, its more important to teach kids about how to use their time well and experience the world via something other than an LCD screen than it is to learn the details about advanced router configuration.

By: thingamabob

thingamabob — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:30:48 +0000

In most home routers there are settings you can allow and block web pages.
I assume you have a router with at least 2 machines with internet connectivity, so start there. Not knowing what you have is why I can’t comment on the “how to”.

By: Multi_expert

Multi_expert — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:48:41 +0000

Plety of programs around. Symantec Internet security or similar has parental controls that are password protected ad should help.
McAfee and other also have.

Any store that sells compute software should have these and more.

I hope this helps !

By: Farzan

Farzan — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:01:09 +0000

as an addicted to internet while having to study form net, my best advice is to leave them alone, they will get tiered at a time. but it depends on their age as well. if they are young, put time limit for them, and let them study in their time, if they wanted to take more time, they have to take your permission. that would be a good idea i suppose

By: globeweasel

globeweasel — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:09:44 +0000

guess i would talk to the school about why they need the internet at that age.