parent control apps, child bypassing rules

[Lizabeth83]

Hi

We currently use the parent control app Qustodio, but the child is managing to bypass all the rules! How can we stop that? (Have talked to him!)

What age is the child?

Take the device off the child until they can be trusted to use it sensibly

Thanks, he's 12. long backstory re bahavioral issues.

Without the backstory it's hard to know really. Is he neurotypical?

If he really must have their use restricted then you'll have to just remove the device and only allow him to use it with supervision, i.e. where you can see the screen. If you can loosen the reins though, that might be better. Again, depends on the backstory.

By the way. If he's anything like I was at twelve, he's enjoying figuring out how to bypass the software and will push to see how far he can break it. He may well end up doing things he wouldn't have been interested in otherwise purely for the sake of testing the app.

What are you trying to restrict? Time spent on it? Websites? content?

Take the device away 🤷‍♀️

They are never going to be completely childproof, so for older children these tools are best used as part of a discussion and agreement.

With behavioural issues - have you ever read the explosive child and tried the methods in there?

DH's was looking at investing in something like that so he trialled it with DS who was about 8 at the time. Took him 5 minutes to get around it.

You might need to restrict in the old fashioned way.