Most Wi-Fi routers have settings that allow you to limit your child’s screen time and the content they can view. It just takes a little digging through the settings. Every router is different, so consult your model’s manual for details. Here’s an overview of some features to look out for and how best to use them.
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Set up parental controls on your Wi-Fi router
To customise and manage your home’s internet connection, you’ll need to access your router’s settings, and most modern models offer a companion app that lets you connect to your router and tweak the settings to suit your preferences.
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These apps are a good start, and many offer a basic level of parental control that you can try out, but if you really want to dig in and see all of your router’s settings, you’ll need to connect using a computer.
First, open your favorite web browser on your computer and type your network IP address into the address bar. By default, most routers use 192.168.1.1 as the IP address. If this doesn’t work, you can find out your IP address by right-clicking on the Internet icon and looking for details or settings.
For Mac users, the IP address can be found by clicking on the Wi-Fi symbol, scrolling down and clicking on it. Open Network Preferences.
Once you’ve entered an IP address into the address bar, you’ll need your credentials to edit the settings. Depending on your router, this information might be printed on the router itself, in the user manual, or on the manufacturer’s website. You might have chosen your own credentials when you first set up your router. If you can’t remember your login details, you can usually find and change them in your router’s app.
Once you log in or access settings, you’ll have a few ways to customize your internet browsing depending on your router’s capabilities.
The Nest Wifi app lets you group your kids’ devices and schedule times when they can and can’t connect.
1. Limit Internet Time
Most routers with parental control options include a scheduling setting, which means you can schedule the network to turn off at a certain time each day.
Some let you set schedules for specific devices, so you can choose your child’s laptop, tablet and games console to disconnect from the internet at, say, 8pm on weekdays. Want to block everything? Look for an option that lets you group devices.
2. Restrict specific websites
In addition to scheduling, some routers include parental controls for specific sites, allowing you to choose which URLs to block on different devices in your home, helping to keep your kids away from content you deem inappropriate or dangerous.
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For example, Netgear achieves this with its Nighthawk routers through parental control settings in the Nighthawk app with Circle Smart Parental Controls. From your mobile device, you can adjust time and content for each device on your network.
3. Pause Wi-Fi
If you want to minimize distractions during dinner but don’t want to put specific schedules or limits on yourself, pausing your connection is your best bet.
Routers and mesh networks like Nest Wifi include companion apps that let you pause the internet connection on any or all of your devices and then resume it when you’re ready, and Google’s second-generation Nest Wifi system adds Google Assistant voice controls to each extender, so you can just say, “Hey Google, pause my kid’s Wi-Fi.”
Tip: This is also super useful if your child’s daily Wi-Fi usage is interfering with things like work-related video calls.
Adding router accessories
If you love the router you already own but want to add parental controls, add-on devices can help. Plug-in modules like Circle Home Plus connect to your router and manage internet access and rules for multiple connected devices.
Some devices and apps also allow you to allocate a set amount of screen time for each device and allow your kids to earn internet time by doing chores. This is a great way to teach your kids to be responsible and balance their screen time without you having to take the devices away from them.
As you customize your router settings or add devices for which you want to manage access, it’s important to take steps to keep everyone safe on the internet. Parents looking for more guidelines on internet browsing, screen time, and keeping their kids safe have many online resources, including Connectsafely.org and the Family Online Safety Institute.
