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From shuddering at breaking news to laughing at your favorite movie, everything you want to access today is just a click away—all because the internet has brought the entire world at your fingertips. But that may sound quite nerve-racking if you happen to be a parent.

Children, nowadays, spend a good chunk of their waking hours online—this presents a problem, as there are uncensored, disturbing, and prohibited apps and websites that no one wants their kids to come in contact with. So it has become essential for you to set up parental controls on your router to conveniently manage the ever-growing number of devices that your little ones use.

Whatever it is that you are searching for—how to set up parental controls on your router or tried-and-tested parental control measures—this guide can help you make sense of the multiple options available for managing your entire family devices.

How Do I Set Parental Controls on My Router?

If your kids need a screen-time breather, here is how you can set up parental controls on your router to control their internet usage.

  1. Open your preferred browser and type in the gateway IP address for your home network. Mostly it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. If that does not work for you, you can look up yours easily—the first place you can find it is the label at the rear or side of the router, which has the IP printed on it. You can also look into the router’s user manual or visit the manufacturer’s website and retrieve it from there by model. Alternatively, the IP can be obtained from the Network and Internet Settings of your operating software, Windows or Mac OS.
  2. Now, you may be asked to enter credentials—username and password—to edit the setting and access your device’s control panel. Some manufacturers print this information on the router, mention it in the user manual, or list it on their official website. In most cases the username is “admin” and the password is either “admin” or “password”.
  3. Once you log in to the router control panel, search for the parental controls option—depending on the router, there are different ways to access parental controls and customize your children’s online experience. For some routers, you’ll find the Parental Controls tab under Tools, for others the tab will appear under Security Settings.

Keep in mind the specific parental controls available vary depending on the router’s model as well as the brand. Plus, some routers offer a structured system of pre-programmed limitations that you can opt for as an alternative to applying restrictions manually.  

Once you finish configuring parental controls, don’t forget to ensure the password to your router’s control panel is secure. You sure don’t want the kids to find a way around and undo the restrictions you’ve applied.

Do Parental Controls Really Work?

Well, parental controls help minimize the risk of your child watching age inappropriate content online. But setting parental controls on the in-home network is not enough—parents need to monitor internet activity and apply age-appropriate settings on all devices in order to ensure their kid’s exposure is safe and creative. In any case setting parental controls on the home network will be effective only when kids connect through it. If they use mobile data instead, the controls you apply via your router won’t be applicable.

Let’s take a look at the features offered by commonly available parental controls:

Limit Internet Time

Almost every other router comes with a parental control option to set up an internet usage schedule for your kids. This allows parents to schedule the network to turn on and off at a specific time every day.

If you want the scheduling feature to work on specific devices only, you can select your child gaming console or tablet and disconnect it from the home network at the same time every day.

Pause Your Home Wi-Fi

If all you want is to keep distractions at a bay during breakfast, lunch, or dinner time—and dont want to impose any restrictions—simply pausing your Wi-Fi connection can do the trick for you.

Restrict or Block Specific Websites

Besides scheduling, some routers also offer parental control options for specific sites. All you have to do is choose the URLs you wish to block on multiple devices in your home, so you can protect your kids from dangerous, inappropriate, or disturbing content.

You can also limit what your kids can look up on the internet by enabling Google SafeSearch feature in whichever browser you use. This makes sure your kids do not accidentally come across something age in appropriate, once they start using the web.

Get a Router Accessory

If you like your existing router but also wish to include parental controls, there are multiple add-on devices in the market that you can buy. You can connect these devices to your router and let them manage internet rules and access for all connected devices.

Some apps and devices even allocate a specific number of minutes to each kid’s device, allowing children to win more online time by participating in house chores. Thats an awesome way to teach your kids how to responsibly juggle between their daily life and screen time without you pulling the device out of their hands.

Which is the Best Parental Control Option?

Listed below are some of our favorite parental control options?routers with built-in parental controls, plug-in devices, cloud/app       :

  1. Gryphon Smart Mesh Router and Parental Control System?Overall the best router with parental controls
  2. Guardian Advanced Parental Control System by Gryphon—the finest parental controls on a router
  3. The Circle Parental Control Device—an app with the most ideal customization options
  4. TigerMom Parental Control Wi-Fi Router—great value for money
  5. Net Nanny?a software with amazing device compatibility
  6. CleanerNet Mini Safe Internet Filter?the best cloud-based add-on device
  7. Bark—perfect for monitoring
  8. Norton Family?ideal for multi-device security for Windows & Android based devices
  9. Qustodio—Good option for Android users
  10. Eero Prop Wi-Fi Parental Control System by Amazon—Great for filtering content in real-time

There You Are!

Figuring out what kind of parental control system is suitable for you depends totally on your familys needs. Many parents feel satisfied with basic, free browser settings to filter explicit content. Some need help cracking down on screen time. Then there are a few who prefer keeping spot-checks on their child’s devices. And still others who invest in a reliable internet provider that offers good parental control options to take care of your child’s online safety.

If you are also looking for fast and reliable fiber optic internet services that let you keep tabs on your childs data, enter your Zip Code here to explore all available fiber internet providers in your area.

Or give a call at 1-855-349-9328 to get expert advice and suggestions. Our representatives can help you find fiber optic providers offering the best parental control options. And, also guide you to choose the plan that is the best fit for your family’s needs.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the Best Parental Control Option?

Gryphon Smart Mesh Router and Parental Control System, Guardian Advanced Parental Control System by Gryphon, TigerMom Parental Control Wi-Fi Router and CleanerNet Mini Safe Internet Filter are some popular ones!

Do Parental Controls Really Work?

Parental controls help minimize the risk of your child watching age inappropriate content online. This allows parents to schedule the network to turn on and off at a specific time every day. Besides scheduling, some routers also offer parental control options for specific sites. All you have to do is choose the URLs you wish to block on multiple devices in your home.