Contents Up PreviousNext

How to use KidsTime?

WARNING: Please, read what follows carefully in its entirety. It will show you how to use KidsTime to achieve your aims.

All versions of Windows(tm) operating systems starting from Windows 2000 support several types of user accounts. You can manage them with the help of the control panel (Start->Settings->Control Panel). The first type of account is the Administrator account. If you are logged in as the administrator you are able to change the system settings, install and uninstall applications, create other accounts, etc. Another type of account is the Limited account which does not allow some of the functions enabled in the Administrator account. The Administrator account is best suited for parents or employers, and the Limited one is suitable for children or employees. KidsTime will bar the way to unlimited or uncontrolled play. It can be assumed that children or employees wishing to play games will attempt to find ways to eliminate or neutralize KidsTime. But they will not succeed. You will appreciate the value of the permitted games list as it will give you control over what you may allow on your computer.

Please, follow these instructions to start using KidsTime right away. They are applicable whether you have Windows 95 / 98 / ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Make your Administrator account password-protected and remember to jot your password down for future use.

  1. Login in to Windows as administrator. (You already have administrator privileges if you have installed KidsTime yourself.)
  2. Go to "User Accounts" at Windows Control Panel ( Start->Settings->Control Panel->User Accounts).
  3. Create Limited user accounts for your children or employees. It is best to use names rather than passwords as these can easily be forgotten. (WARNING: if you have more than one child use different passwords for their accounts. This will guarantee that none of them will be able to use "game" time of the other.) Now you are ready to use KidsTime.
  4. Add all the games to be controlled to the KidsTime's games list. To do this click on the "Games" tab and add paths to all executable games files. You can easily find them in "Program Files\Program Name\*.exe" or in "Program Files\Program Developer\Program Name\*.exe".
  5. Now you are ready to designate intervals when games can be played. Click the "Active Schedule" tab. It contains a listing of permissible times for the user whose name is chosen in the "User" list. You can select the day of the week by clicking on the corresponding button. The default schedule allows playing all day long (Start = 0:00, End = 24.00). Here's what you are able to do as the Administrator:
    1. You can delete play intervals. To do this select the Interval row and click the Remove button
    2. You can edit play intervals. Select the Interval row and set the value of Start and End parameters using the rows at the bottom. Click "Save".
    3. You can add forbidden intervals. For example, you have one default play interval (Start = 0:00, End = 24.00) and you wish to disallow playing from 13:00 to 18:00. To do this click the left button at the top, input values 13:00 and 18:00 and click OK. You will see that the new schedule includes two periods when playing is permitted: from 0:00 till 13:00 and from 18:00 till 24:00. So, playing from 13:00 till 18:00 will not be allowed.
    4. You can reset the schedule for any day to default. Click on left/right(?) button to restore one play interval from 0:00 till 24.00
  6. Don't forget to set the schedule for each day of the week for each user! Remember that the schedule contains only periods when playing is permitted. Now you are ready to set limits for summary play time. To do this click on "Limitations" or follow the command on the top menu Administrator->Limitations. The Limitation window enables setting maximum summary play time for each day of the week and for the whole week. For example, in a previous step you added gaming intervals for Monday (10:00 - 11:00 and 19:00-20:00) and you now wish to limit summary play time for Monday to 1 hour 30 seconds. Use the scrollbar for Monday or simply enter "1:30" in the appropriate line. To limit summary play time for a week, use the bottom panel. Don't forget to set limitations for each user and click button "Save".
  7. Now everything is ready and you have total control of anyone's play time. Inform your users that you have created special Windows accounts for them without (or with) password.  Don't forget to jot down your administrator password for the Windows account and the administrator password for KidsTime.

 If you still have questions or suggestions please contact us: yzf.zisun@163.com