ChildCentre

ChildCentre is a parental control software tool that allows parents to control who and when can use their home PC.

Thanks to ChildCentre, parents can determine which programs their children can execute, on which days of the week, and for how long.

When you install the program, it forces you to restart the system in order to be able to actually use it. By default, it configures itself to launch itself automatically when Microsoft Windows starts. The program takes Windows users as a basis, so that you - as an Administrator - can define the restrictions for other Windows users.

The program's main interface is simple, plain, and easy to understand. It allows you to choose among three working modes: "Dedicated programs", "Absolute time counting", and "No control of the Child". If you choose "Dedicated programs", you can add specific executables to a list of programs that other users will be able to run, with an associated title for easier identification. Under this mode, you are also allowed to define the time restriction (the number of hours and minutes during which your children can make use of the programs) - either a common one valid for all days of the week, or a different one for each day. Here you can also enable or disable eye gymnastics. These are eye exercises you can force your child to carry out, in order to avoid him/her to fix their sight on the screen for too long.

The "Absolute time counting" mode works on a similar fashion, except that you are not allowed to determine which programs can or cannot be run - it applies a time restriction regardless of which programs the users are executing. Finally, the "No control of the child" mode deactivates completely all the restrictions previously defined. In addition, and independently of the mode you are working on, you can also define a password to run ChildCentre, since by default the program runs without any restrictions, only assuming that you are the Administrator user as defined by Windows.

Once you have configured the program, you can accept all changes and only then "Child Centre" will become active, allowing the user to execute any of the authorized programs, to know the remaining time they have for the application in question, to access the "eye gymnastics" window, and more. Definitively, this program gives parents full control over the use of their PC.

It is very important to notice that this review applies to the demo version of the program, which you can use for up to 90 days before you have to pay for it. There is also a free version - however, this will allow you to work in “Dedicated programs” mode only.