The Nest Wifi app lets you group your kids devices together and then schedule times when they can and cannot connect.
Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNETMost routers with parental control options include a setting for scheduling. This means you can schedule the network to turn off at a certain time every day.
Some include scheduling for specific devices, so you can choose your child's laptop, tablet or gaming console and disconnect it from the internet at, say, 8 p.m. every weeknight. Want to block everything? Look for options that let you group devices together.
In addition to scheduling, some routers include parental controls for specific sites. You can choose which URLs to block on different devices in your home, so you can keep your kids away from content you deem inappropriate or dangerous.
Netgear, for example, does this with its Nighthawk routers through the Nighthawk app's parental control settings, powered by Circle Smart Parental Controls. You can adjust time and content for each device on your network from your mobile device.
If you're just looking to keep distractions at a minimum during dinnertime but don't want to set up any specific schedules or restrictions, pausing the connection is your best bet.
Routers and mesh networks like Nest Wifi include companion apps that allow you to pause the internet connection on some or all devices and resume it as soon as you're ready. Google's second-gen Nest Wifi system adds Google Assistant voice controls into each extender, so you can just say, "OK Google, pause the kids' Wi-Fi."
Hint: This is also pretty handy if your kids' daily Wi-Fi consumption is interfering with things like work-related video calls.
If you love the router you already own but want to add parental controls, there are add-on devices out there to help. Plug-in modules like the Circle Home Plus connect to your router and manage internet access and rules for multiple connected devices.
Some devices and apps can even budget a certain number of minutes to each device, then allow children to earn more internet time by doing chores around the house. That's a great way to teach children to responsibly manage and balance their screen time without a parent wrenching the device out of their hands.
When you're customizing your router settings or adding on a device to manage access, it's important to take steps to keep everyone safe on the internet. For parents looking for more guidelines on internet browsing, screen time and keeping kids safe, there are a number of online resources, including Connectsafely.org and Family Online Safety Institute.
Source: cnet.com