Screentime (Optional)

Screentime is a feature of recent Apple operating systems that tracks and can control computer activity. 

In order to use Screentime remotely to monitor and restrict your child's access, you'll need to use the Family Sharing feature with your Apple ID. Below are steps on how to do so.

1. Create Parent Apple ID

    If you don't already have an apple ID, you'll need to make one for yourself. 

• • 1. Open the App Store and Click Sign In at the bottom left hand corner.

   2. Click Create Apple ID

3. Fill in details    

    - Name

    - Birthday

    - Email

    - Password

    - Phone Number

    - Billing Information

4. Confirm via verification email

2. Create Student Apple ID

    1. Login to iCloud on your device

    2. Login to Family Sharing     

3. Add Family Members using the + Button and fill in their login credentials or create an account for them

Once you've added your child to your Family Sharing, make sure to log them into their respective device. In this case, that would be on the student account on the Laptop

In Screentime (System Preferences > Screentime) select your child from the dropdown menu and Turn On Screentime. Be sure to also set up a Screentime password.

Using Screentime

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Screentime has a couple features that you can use to monitor and regulate your child's computer time.

Monitor

    - App Usage

    - Notifications

    - Pickups

Manage

    - Downtime

    - App Limits

    - Communication

    - Always Allowed

    - Content & Privacy

App Usage, Notifications, and Pickups are all logs of different interactions, recording how often and how long different applications are used.

Downtime, App Limits, Communication, Always Allowed, and Content & Privacy all deal with which apps and websites are allowed when.

Downtime

Use this to set times where you want your child to be away from the computer. The default is 10pm - 7am.

App Limits

Allows you to set daily usage limits on specific apps, app categories, or websites. You can block specific apps like Discord or Firefox to whole categories like Games or Social Networking.

Note that when setting app limits that you are not setting limits on applications that students require during their time at school.

Communication

Allows you to control who the Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud communications on the specific device can interaction with.

Always Allow

A way to allow usage of selected applications after downtime has started.

Content & Privacy

Restrict explicit content, purchases, downloads and privacy settings on the device.

    - Websites

    - iTunes store

    - iOS Permissions

Implementing Parent Controls with TP-Link Deco Series Routers (Optional)

The ICS IT team evaluated the TP-Link Deco series routers with parental control features on the network level, it can be setup at home.

Included Features (Free with Router):

• Blocked Websites – Restrict access to specific sites

• Web Filter – Block content by category (e.g., Mature Content, Gaming, Social Media)

• Bedtime – Disable internet access during for bedtime

Premium Features* (Paid Subscription, HK$148/year required):

• Time Limits - Control total daily Internet usage

• Offtime - Disable Internet access outside allowed hours

• SafeSearch - Blocks inappropriate content from search engine results

• YouTube Restricted - Filter inappropriate videos

• Blocked Apps - Block specific apps

• App Time Limits - Set daily limits for specific apps

• Always Allowed Apps - Whitelist apps for learning

* The available features differ across models.

To setup the parental controls with TP-Link Deco Series Routers, please refer to this link on TP-Link website.