Childproofing a computer

[Voetleuce]

G'day

I'm looking for a program that will (a) protect my computer from my
child and (b) allow my child to use the computer to do simple things
like draw or play a simple game. I'm using Windows 2000 SP4. Ideally
I'd like to have a program that will lock all access to the computer
except one or two applications. My son is 2 years old so I'm not
concerned that he might try to hack the system . I am, however,
concerned that he may press the wrong button and delete some critical
files of mine.

Also, do you know of programs that very young children might enjoy?
I'm thinking of simple games, simple drawing programs or even very
simple text programs. It need not be branded as educational.

Thanks in advance!
Samuel Murray

PS I would have thought it might be possible to create a user on W2000
with extremely limited access to the rest of the system, but I can't
figure out how. The same goes for Linux (I have a RedHat 8 box). It
would be nice if I could just create a user with *no* write access
anywhere and read access only in specified directories. That should
be sufficient.

 

[Steven Burn]

G'day

I'm looking for a program that will (a) protect my computer from my
child and (b) allow my child to use the computer to do simple things
like draw or play a simple game. I'm using Windows 2000 SP4. Ideally
I'd like to have a program that will lock all access to the computer
except one or two applications. My son is 2 years old so I'm not
concerned that he might try to hack the system . I am, however,
concerned that he may press the wrong button and delete some critical
files of mine.

</snip>

Create a second user ;o)

http://helpdesk.graniteschools.org/docs/OS/WinNT/CreateUser/

Also, do you know of programs that very young children might enjoy?
I'm thinking of simple games, simple drawing programs or even very
simple text programs. It need not be branded as educational.

</snip>

www.kidsfreeware.com

Thanks in advance!
Samuel Murray

PS I would have thought it might be possible to create a user on W2000
with extremely limited access to the rest of the system, but I can't
figure out how. The same goes for Linux (I have a RedHat 8 box). It
would be nice if I could just create a user with *no* write access
anywhere and read access only in specified directories. That should
be sufficient.

--

Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

 

[*ProteanThread*]

there are some links here that may help (although i'm not done with the
site)

http://www.villagecouncil.net

 

[jo]

(Responding to Steven because I don't see the OP)

Child Proof is very good:

http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/kids/cproof.html

 

[H.M.A. (Dick) Hazeleger]

Voetleuce wrote:

PS I would have thought it might be possible to create a user on W2000
with extremely limited access to the rest of the system, but I can't
figure out how. The same goes for Linux (I have a RedHat 8 box). It
would be nice if I could just create a user with no write access
anywhere and read access only in specified directories. That should
be sufficient.

Hi Samuel,

It is not as difficult as you may think... but it takes some effort! I
think we would draw quite a bit of protest from the citizens here, if
we would discuss this in this NG. If you want to discuss it by eMail,
it would be fine with me. I can give you an address to write to...

Dick

 

[*ProteanThread*]

Hi Samuel,

It is not as difficult as you may think... but it takes some effort! I
think we would draw quite a bit of protest from the citizens here, if
we would discuss this in this NG. If you want to discuss it by eMail,
it would be fine with me. I can give you an address to write to...

You'd get no protest from me (or anyothers) as I (and many others) would be
interested to know this information.

 

[Terry Russell]

except one or two applications. My son is 2 years old so I'm not
concerned that he might try to hack the system . I am, however,
concerned that he may press the wrong button and delete some critical

PS I would have thought it might be possible to create a user on W2000
with extremely limited access to the rest of the system, but I can't
figure out how. The same goes for Linux (I have a RedHat 8 box). It
would be nice if I could just create a user with *no* write access

how do you write protect the monitor?
keep orange juice out of the DVD?

why not just give them the car keys?

PCs are designed for and by adults with moderate
abstract modelling and motor skills. Maybe in 5 or 6 years,
when that PC is worth $20, they may get some use out of it.

give them a toy and playmates

 

[H.M.A. (Dick) Hazeleger]

You'd get no protest from me (or anyothers) as I (and many others)
would be interested to know this information.

Hi ProteanThread (and others);

Well, we'll see...

The procedure below assumes that your kiddo(s) have an account on the
system

1. Open your "Control Panel", followed by the "Administrative Tools"
2. Next, open "Computer Management", followed by "Local Users and
Groups"
3. Go to the "Groups" section
4. Right click in the right-hand area and select "New Group"
5. Give the group an appropriate name (eg. NoKidStuff)
6. Now add the kiddo('s account(s) to the group as a member.
7. Close all "Administrative Tools" windows.
8. Start explorer (Windows, not Internet)
9. Right click on every folder you want to keep out of sight of your
little ones
10. Go to the security tab, and add the group (NoKidStuff) to the
members list of the folder (or even drive)
11. Now comes the important part: Click on the "NoKidStuff entry in the
list,
12. Check in the right-hand column all appropriate checkboxes (best
would be all)
13. Click on OK, done for this folder or drive... next one.

Working with groups has the advantage that, when they would be trusted
not to screw up the system later... they only would have to be deleted
from the group and they would have access. Also... This looks like a
lot of work... but believe me, in 20 minutes you can make the system
quite "locked" for them. One remark: CD Drive and Floppy cannot be
disabled this way, special (non freeware and OT here) software is
required to achieve this.

HtH
Dick

 

[Voetleuce]

how do you write protect the monitor?

By teaching them not to write on the monitor. Teaching a two year old
that pens are only for paper and only when you're sitting at the
little kids' table, is fairly simple. Besides, I wouldn't leave my
child *alone* with the computer... I'm always in the area.

keep orange juice out of the DVD?

No food or drinks allowed when sitting at the computer. Very simple.

Why not just give them the car keys?

They won't be able to reach the car. Putting up toddler gates on
either side of the car port was one of the first things we did once we
discovered that they just *love* sticking things into the key slots.
Now they have the freedom of the backyard, but they have no access to
the car (or visitors' cars).

PCs are designed for and by adults with moderate
abstract modelling and motor skills.

Nope. My two year old child already knows about the Esc key and the
Windows key just from watching, and he knows (from being told) not to
touch the "Sleep" or "Power" buttons. He can use a mouse and he knows
how to click. He can't quite drag and drop yet, but his hand-eye
coordination is sufficiently developed to enable him to close a window
by clicking the "X".

I agree that children should play outside as much as possible and that
they should learn to play with "ordinary" toys, but when mama or papa
works on the computer, it is only natural for them to desire to copy
that behaviour. This is, after all, how children develop their social
skills... by copying what we do. By providing a program on the
computer with which my child can play without me worrying about data
loss, I'm teaching him valuable skills and I'm maintaining my own
sanity.

give them a toy and playmates

I am aware of the stereotyped image of the modern child sitting in
front of a computer or television all day long, but I can assure you
that I share your view about toys and playmates. For example, we
limit the amount of television time our child is allowed to have.

But sooner or later any child will want to use the computer. Heck, he
already knows how to change tapes in the tape deck, how to change the
television channel and volume, how to use a broom to sweep his own
room from sand and mud, how to answer the telephone (with limited
vocabulary, of course), etc. Soon he'll be able to show me how I can
get rid of that flashing 12:00 on my video machine.

 

[Voetleuce]

Create a second user ;o)
http://helpdesk.graniteschools.org/docs/OS/WinNT/CreateUser/

Thanks, but creating extra users simply allows those users to have
their own settings and save their own data in their own little
folders. It does not protect other users and their data (or even the
system itself) from new users.

 

[Voetleuce]

there are some links here that may help (although i'm not done with the
site): http://www.villagecouncil.net

Thanks! I found what I've been looking for, via that site.

Child Proof
http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/kids/cproof.html
This program locks the screen with it's own toolbar (child mode). The
toolbar contains only the programs approved by the parent (in parent
mode). To get out of child mode, press a certain 4-key key
combination. My Windows key is also disabled in child mode, and so it
Alt+Ctrl+Del. The only downside is that you must ensure the safe
programs don't allow the child access to the rest of the computer (for
example, via File->Open menus) and the program may hang when combined
with programs that have built-in child protection already.

I don't know if this program works on WXP and higher, though. It runs
just fine on W2000 (and claims to work on W95/98/NT as well).

 

[jo]

I don't know if this program works on WXP and higher, though

It does

 

[Susan Bugher]

Child Proof
http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/kids/cproof.html

Drawing for Children by the same author (Mark Overmars) gets rave reviews.

http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/kids/draw/

another possibility

Keyboard Pounder
http://www.littlebitsmultimedia.com/littlebits/html/littlebits_downloads.htm

Keyboard Pounder
for parents with curious young children. Let your baby pound away in
safety , no need to worry about programs or files accidentally deleted,
modified, or started..... Instant cause and effect ... soft music and
fish, flowers, and butterflies. Free and Fun ....

http://www.littlebitsmultimedia.com/littlebits/files/keyboardpounder.zip
910 Kb

Susan

 

[jo]

Keyboard Pounder
for parents with curious young children. Let your baby pound away in
safety , no need to worry about programs or files accidentally deleted,
modified, or started..... Instant cause and effect ... soft music and
fish, flowers, and butterflies. Free and Fun ....

Aaaaarghh... is this the one that kiddies adore, with some appalling
Vivaldi midi's?

 

[Susan Bugher]

Aaaaarghh... is this the one that kiddies adore, with some appalling
Vivaldi midi's?

Dunno - haven't tried it. The "kids" are too old, the grandkids are too
old, the greatgrandkids have yet to appear. .

OTOH. . . my *second* childhood must be just around the corner. . .

I'll report back later.

Susan

 

[Terry Russell]

By teaching them not to write on the monitor. Teaching a two year old
that pens are only for paper and only when you're sitting at the
little kids' table, is fairly simple. Besides, I wouldn't leave my
child *alone* with the computer... I'm always in the area.

we evolved opposable thumbs , be very afraid
;-)

skills... by copying what we do. By providing a program on the
computer with which my child can play without me worrying about data
loss, I'm teaching him valuable skills and I'm maintaining my own
sanity.


I am aware of the stereotyped image of the modern child sitting in
front of a computer or television all day long, but I can assure you
that I share your view about toys and playmates. For example, we
limit the amount of television time our child is allowed to have.

But sooner or later any child will want to use the computer. Heck, he

by the time they could really use that P3000
it will be worth $25

computer auctions
P133 , 14 inch, cd , sound,w95 $25 tested working, great for bleepbloop apps
or a pallet of a dozen untested for $20
maybe a clean new keyboard for $10

cheap toys , no need to childproof, no data to lose