Can you block a website on an ipad?

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if you can help


My son has become massively obsessed with minecraft to the point it is effecting his work, so we have told him he is just to play on it at weekends. He also goes on to You-tube to watch Dan do his version of minecraft


We are happy for him to use the ipad in the week to play educational apps. We are concerned though with our backs turned he will click on to minecraft or You-tube.


We have two ipads so the plan is to put the educational apps on one and minecraft on the other.


So my question is would it be possible to block a website? I.e minecraft and you tube on one of the ipads?


Many thanks

Tropez

You should be able to

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4213

There also appears to be an app that is capable of locking access to specific apps

http://jaxov.com/2011/02/password-protect-apps-folders-on-iphone-ipod-touch-ipad/

However, it has iPad crossed out several times on the page so maybe it no longer offers that functionality?

poppy_f1

block it at the router side and unblock when you want to let him play it but this would affect all users on the network

if you google your router it will give you instructions on how do block it

tea-tart-and-rice_3

minecraft... I feel your pain!

I can see how it gets their creative juices flowing but the music (bangs head on keyboard) and our daft dog feels compelled to run outside every time the minecraft cat meows.

Now back to school Im putting my foot down on time spent on it. Hasnt gone down well but tough!

Its all the rage at the moment I think, suppose it could be worse.

claire21

I just don't get minecraft, it looks so basic but the kids seem to love it.

Tropez

claire21 wrote: »

I just don't get minecraft, it looks so basic but the kids seem to love it.

It looks basic because the system requirements to run some of the more complex things in Minecraft would be through the roof and beyond the price range of many people. Even in its current state it can be a bit demanding at times.

I think it is popular because you can do so much with it. Someone I know built a mansion and somewhere on the map built an actual electrical grid to power the mansion in-game. It is hard to explain really but basically if you can think of it, there's probably a way to do it in Minecraft and kids especially generally have imaginations in overdrive and inquisitiveness.

Counting_Pennies_2

Minecraft does seem so very innocent and simple.


But there is a compulsive element to it, and many teachers I have spoken to have noticed a difference in behaviour.


Some children take in minecraft books to school for their fiction reading.


They have noticed the change in work results at the very thought of minecraft.


Working on a piece of work, half way through there might be a discussion on minecraft and the quality of the work declines after that discussion, as the childrens minds have been transported to the world of minecraft and their brains are whizzing all over the place.


I have definitely noticed a difference in my son when he goes on minecraft, and Dan the minecraft whizz is the object of desire at the moment, and his voice is driving me crazy!

MrsAtobe

Would you feel confident enough to edit the /etc/hosts file on the iPad that you don't want him to play Mine craft on?

Add a line to it with the following:

127.0.0.1 (press tab key)(enter URL of Mine craft website)

There's no place like 127.0.0.1 . (Bad techy joke)

paulineb_2

I think you might possibly need to consider limiting pc time rather than blocking one website although I understand why you are considering it.

Counting_Pennies_2

paulineb wrote: »

I think you might possibly need to consider limiting pc time rather than blocking one website although I understand why you are considering it.

Thanks I do limit the time he has access and week days it is normally an hour every two days due to his home work and other social activities, but in those times I don't want him to have access to these websites at all as we are finding it affects him