Shhhh, don't tell him

[IADad]

So, it's Christmas in July...well, Christmas SHOPPING in July anyway...DS1 has been asking for a real laptop, and Target had a Notebook on sale for $199 and I got an additional 10% off, so for $180, Santa has procurred one for him. Now, it's going to be lots of fun setting the stage for this gift...we've already told him we aren't buying him one, so this sets up Santa for the big win...I plan to have it all setup and configured for Christmas morning.

So, we've already decided, he will only use it in family space, he's not going to become a computer recluse. While I was originally against him having one, I think it makes sense as it reduces tensions between him and younger brother who always wants to use the computer any time he gets on it.

So, my question is what kinds of setup tips do you guys have for setting up computers for kids? I'll hang up and listen.

[mom2many]

Parental controls are a must! And then I would just do weekly browser history checks. As long as it is kept in the family room you should be ok!

[NinJaBob]

I don't know but I will be looking into this soon myself and my oldest is starting to use computers more and more. I guess it would be a goodidea to password protect the computer so that he can't get on without you knowing Also I will probably shop around for spyware. I know that 8 is kind of young but you can never be too careful.

[IADad]

m2m, "bob" (seems like I should know you from somewhere....) thanks for the answers.

I plan to set it up with an admin account for me and a user account for him (Santa would want it that way. I'll set the parental controls, (which I've never done before, not sure if I just do that in Windows or IE also...) I'll put a good virus and spyware software on. I think I'm going to pass on installing any kind of keylogger until he shows me a reason not to trust.

What about private browsing, is there a way to disable that feature? While it's great for Daddy's (and presumebly mommmys) I'd just as soon he either didn't know about it or it was disabled.

Also, can anyone tell me how to connect wifi connected computers to peripherals?

So, my setup at home has DSL coming in to a wireless router, and a desktop connected to a wired port in the router. A printer is connected to that desktop. So, how do I make that computer and thus the printer. accessable to a device connected via wifi?

Got simple steps?

[Cop2be]

Originally Posted by IADad

m2m, "bob" (seems like I should know you from somewhere....) thanks for the answers.

I plan to set it up with an admin account for me and a user account for him (Santa would want it that way. I'll set the parental controls, (which I've never done before, not sure if I just do that in Windows or IE also...) I'll put a good virus and spyware software on. I think I'm going to pass on installing any kind of keylogger until he shows me a reason not to trust.

What about private browsing, is there a way to disable that feature? While it's great for Daddy's (and presumebly mommmys) I'd just as soon he either didn't know about it or it was disabled.

Also, can anyone tell me how to connect wifi connected computers to peripherals?

So, my setup at home has DSL coming in to a wireless router, and a desktop connected to a wired port in the router. A printer is connected to that desktop. So, how do I make that computer and thus the printer. accessable to a device connected via wifi?

Got simple steps?

If you want to connect the printer to the laptop you need to have a wireless capable printer.
I have one and still don't know how to set it up.

[Antoinette]

my laptop and printer are portable.. my laptop is apple though so I'm not going to be a big help with Microsoft.. i could probably do it if i was there but i can't explain things well without just doing them myself

[Xero]

NinjaBob is Phil lol.

Sounds like a sweet gift! I bet he'll be all kinds of excited. You can disable "InPrivate" I have it disabled on my computer, I just thought it was too shady and not necessary for a computer that my family uses. :/ The problem is that I don't remember how I did it lol. Let me look into it and I will get back to this thread haha.

[IADad]

Originally Posted by Xero

NinjaBob is Phil lol.

Sounds like a sweet gift! I bet he'll be all kinds of excited. You can disable "InPrivate" I have it disabled on my computer, I just thought it was too shady and not necessary for a computer that my family uses. :/ The problem is that I don't remember how I did it lol. Let me look into it and I will get back to this thread haha.

shhh, he's a ninja, don't blow his cover...

Since I posted this I've read up on sharing the computer that's my desktop and I think disabling the inprivate thing is in parental controls...so thanks all.

Antionette, if you want to stop by in early Decmber and help me set it up, you're welcome to do so...Iowa is soooo lovely that time of year. ;-)