ChildCyberGuardInternet Bedtime and Homework Mode: Rules That Stick
The hardest part of screen time is not the rule — it is being the one who has to enforce it every single night. When the rule is built into the computer, it stops being a fight between you and your child.
Key takeaways
- A repeating internet bedtime removes the nightly argument — the computer is the referee.
- Homework mode blocks distractions but leaves school sites working; Pause is a one-tap reset.
- Agree the rules together and use them kindly.
Why a bedtime for the internet works
Late-night browsing cuts into sleep, and tired children struggle at school and with their moods. A schedule that switches the internet off at, say, 21:00 and back on at 06:00 means nobody has to nag. The computer simply stops, the same way every night.
Three tools, three jobs
- Bedtime schedule — a repeating window (for example Sunday to Thursday, 21:00 to 06:00) when the internet is off.
- Homework mode — for a set time, social media, video, games and stranger chat are blocked, while school websites and research still work.
- Pause now — one tap from your phone for dinner time, family time or a reset, for 30 minutes, an hour, two hours or until you resume.
How to set it up
- Open your ChildCyberGuard dashboard and choose your child's PC.
- Open Pause & schedules.
- Add a schedule: choose Internet off, tick the school nights, and set 21:00 until 06:00. Windows that end earlier than they start simply run past midnight.
- Add a second schedule for homework, for example Monday to Friday 15:00 to 17:00 in homework mode.
Introduce it the right way
- Explain the why: sleep, school, and family time — not punishment.
- Agree the times together. Children keep rules they helped choose.
- Use pause kindly. A calm "internet is off for dinner" is easier than taking a device away.
- Keep it fair: adults follow device-free times too.
Good to know: schedules and pauses are enforced on the PC itself, so they keep working if the home internet drops, and changing the PC's clock does not get around them. Only your dashboard website stays reachable during a pause, so you can always resume.
Read more about healthy limits in our guide to screen time for children, or see everything in the control features.
Frequently asked questions
Will a bedtime schedule work if the internet is down?
Yes. Schedules are enforced on the PC itself, so they keep working offline.
Can my child get around it by changing the PC clock?
No. The PC follows the server's time and measures elapsed time itself, so changing the clock does not help.
Can I still use my dashboard while the internet is paused?
Yes. Only the ChildCyberGuard website stays reachable on the child's PC during a pause so you can resume. On your own phone nothing changes.
ChildCyberGuard blocks porn, social media, scams and any site you choose — and shows you every site your child visits. Free for 7 days, then R200 per device per year.
Start my free trial
