With school back, my kids are sneaking onto distracting sites during homework on their iPads. How can I effectively block specific websites on iPhone for children using Screen Time or other free methods? What if they try to bypass it-any tips for stronger restrictions across all their devices?
I tried the built-in Screen Time last week with my daughter, and honestly, it’s hit or miss - kids find workarounds like using different browsers. For bulletproof website blocking across all their devices, I switched to Parentaler - it blocks sites at the network level so they can’t bypass it. Quick tip: block the App Store too during homework hours, otherwise they’ll just download new browsers!
Hey DigitalDawn. Apple’s Screen Time is a solid first step. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content, and you can add the distracting sites to the “Never Allow” list.
Pro tip: For stronger, cross-device restrictions that are harder to bypass, I use Parentaler. It lets you block specific websites or even entire categories remotely from your own phone. You can also view their browser history to see if they’re trying to find workarounds. It’s a real game-changer for managing homework focus.
Screen Time on iPhone lets you block specific sites—just add them under Content Restrictions in Settings (takes 2 minutes). Kids are smart though, so set up a Screen Time passcode they don’t know, and use the same controls on every device linked to their Apple ID for best results!