Bobby Washburn Parenting Support
Tech Safety & Consequence Setup
Step-by-step parental controls for every device your child uses. Tell us your setup, and this guide builds itself around your family.
Tell us about your setup
Your answers customize the instructions below.
Which phone do you use?
Which devices does your child use? (select all that apply)
Applying It as a Consequence
The technical setup is only half the picture — read this before you lock anything down
Set rules in advance
Your child should know before any incident what behaviors lead to tech removal, for how long, and what they need to do to earn it back. Surprise consequences feel arbitrary and breed resentment.
Immediate beats delayed
With everything set up in advance, you can pause internet or lock a device in under 60 seconds. The sooner the consequence follows, the clearer the connection in your child's mind.
Proportional matters
“Tonight's Wi-Fi is off” is easier to follow through on than “grounded from tech for a month.” Start small. A consequence you actually enforce is worth ten you announce but don't follow through on.
Don't negotiate mid-consequence
State it once, stay calm, walk away. Negotiating teaches your child that persistence pays off. The conversation about what happened comes later — after, not during.
Scripts
Applying the consequence:
When they find a workaround:
When they remove parental controls:
When they say you're spying:
Your Device Setup Guide
Full step-by-step for each device. Steps 1–3 get you set up. Steps 4–6 lock it down and apply consequences.
Select your phone and your child's devices above — your personalized guide appears here. The Wi-Fi/Router section is always included at the bottom.
📡 Verizon FiOS — Verizon Home App
Download the Verizon Home app (iOS or Android — works on both). Sign in with your Verizon account. Note: The old "My Fios" app was retired in 2024 — if you have it, it no longer works for this. Use Verizon Home.
Tap Internet → Devices. Every device connected to your home network appears here. Tap a device → Assign to Profile. Create a profile called "Maya's Devices" (use your child's name). Assign every device your child uses: their phone, tablet, gaming console, laptop.
Tap the child's profile → Schedule to set nightly internet blackout (e.g. 9 PM–7 AM and school hours). The internet cuts off on those devices automatically. No manual action needed each night once it's set.
Under Parental Controls in the profile: block website categories (adult content, gambling, social media, gaming during school hours) across all assigned devices automatically — no per-device setup.
Change the router admin password from its default. On any browser connected to your FiOS network, open 192.168.1.1 → log in → Settings → change admin password. Keep this somewhere your child cannot access.
Apply as consequence right now: Verizon Home app → child's profile → Pause All Devices. Done in 10 seconds. Their phone, tablet, and console all lose internet simultaneously. Restore the same way.
💡 Backup: Browser Admin
On any device on your FiOS home network: open a browser → 192.168.1.1 → Parental Controls. Works even without the app installed.
📡 Cox Cable — Panoramic WiFi App
Download the Cox Panoramic WiFi app (iOS or Android). Sign in with your Cox user ID and password. Requires a Cox Panoramic WiFi Gateway — the router says "Panoramic Wifi" on it. If you have an older modem, call Cox to upgrade at no charge.
App → WiFi tab (bottom toolbar) → in the Connected section → tap Add a person. Enter your child's name, choose an icon, tap Assign Devices. Check every device your child uses. Tap Assign devices. All their devices are now in one profile.
Child's profile → tap the Settings icon (top right) → under Create a Downtime Schedule → tap Get Started. Select days and hours (e.g. Mon–Fri 9 PM–7 AM + all day during school hours). Tap Apply Changes. Runs automatically every day.
Profile Settings → Set up Active Time Limit. Set daily limits for weekdays and weekends. Enable Auto-Pause — internet stops automatically when the daily limit is reached, no manual action needed.
Profile Settings → Parental Controls → Turn On. Immediately activates: Google SafeSearch, Bing Strict mode, and YouTube Restricted Mode for all assigned devices on your Wi-Fi. No per-device setup needed.
Apply as consequence now: WiFi tab → child's device → tap Pause Device (single device). Or tap the profile → Pause All (all their devices at once). A crescent moon appears next to paused devices. Tap Unpause to restore.
📡 Other Routers — Quick Reference
| Router / Provider | App | Find Controls Here |
|---|---|---|
| Eero (Amazon) | Eero app | Profiles → Pause → Schedule |
| Google / Nest WiFi | Google Home | Home → Device → Pause Device |
| Netgear Orbi / Nighthawk | Netgear app | Parental Controls → Pause |
| ASUS Router | ASUS Router app | AiProtection → Parental Controls |
| TP-Link Deco | TP-Link Deco app | More → HomeShield → Parental Control |
| Xfinity / Comcast | Xfinity app | Internet → Devices → Pause |
| Any router (manual) | Browser | Open 192.168.1.1 → Parental Controls |
🚨 Router ≠ Cellular Data
Your router controls Wi-Fi only. A phone with a cellular plan can bypass it completely. You must also restrict cellular data on each phone (done in the iPhone or Android sections above) for complete coverage. This is the most common gap parents miss.
Know Their Workarounds
Tailored to your selected devices — close these gaps before they happen
Kids are often faster with technology than their parents. These are the workarounds relevant to your selected devices.
Fix: iPhone/iPad: Content & Privacy → Wi-Fi Changes → Don't Allow. Android: lock in Family Link. Also: router controls only work on YOUR network — phone-level controls are the second layer.
Fix: iPhone/iPad: Screen Time → VPN → Don't Allow. Android: block VPN apps in Family Link. Router: enable VPN traffic blocking in security settings (Eero, ASUS, Cox Panoramic support this).
Fix: Change the router admin password from its printed default immediately. Store it in a password manager or locked location. Also rename your Wi-Fi network from its default name.
Fix: iPhone: Screen Time → Cellular Data Changes → Don't Allow (locks the toggle). Android: Family Link data usage controls. Router controls have zero effect on cellular — phone-level blocks are essential.
Your Setup Checklist
Run through once, check quarterly
📡 Home Wi-Fi / Router
This is an educational resource. Parental control interfaces update frequently — verify steps match your current software version. Not a substitute for professional mental health support when concerning patterns are present.