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Netflix Ultimate Guide for Parents (Guest Post)

amomentwithfranca · 8 July 2016 · 43 Comments

This is a guest post written by Isa about “The Ultimate Guide to Netflix for Parents“. I’m sure most of you will find this useful. If you would like to know more about Isa, please scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find her details, under “About the Author“.

Guest Post - Isa - FI

Most of us either have our own Netflix or are borrowing someone else’s. As a result, it’s a pretty big deal! Before getting started, I’d like to take a moment to thank Franca for featuring this post on her blog. If your kids are into Yo-kai Watch, you might want to check out her review of one of Hasbro’s new toys.

Netflix image 1

The power balance is shifting when it comes to televised entertainment. In a world where cable once reigned supreme, Netflix has virtually been crowned the next prince. With a vast array of TV series and movies, a broad audience has already started to shift away from the tradition of having “thousands of channels and nothing to watch”.

Of course, that also means your kids are going to be getting into Netflix too. Fortunately, Netflix has made efforts to cater to the needs of parents; after all, not everything is appropriate for all ages.

Parental Controls

Netflix Image 2

As with many services, parental controls allow you to select what your kids can and cannot watch. But Netflix has done a little better by offering options that cater to different age groups of “kids.” It might seem a tad heavy-handed, but it’s very convenient.

We all know that children of different ages have wildly different interests. Kids 6-12 are going to want to watch things different than teenagers, as are kids in the 2-5 range. These options are helpful for both parties, as you won’t need to be concerned that the kids are watching shows inappropriate for their age group, and they’ll also be able to find what they want to see easier as well.

There were, however, some misgivings about the basics of the parental controls system. Once you’re logged in, it’s simple enough to log out of the “kids” account and go straight to the adult account (switching profiles is easy). As good as these settings are, they hardly qualify as the “ultimate” tool without their accompanying element.

To keep kids from changing the settings, you need to set a security PIN for parental controls. The option for those settings is listed under My Account and then Parental Controls. While not the most secure access code (it can only be four numbers), it’s enough to deter the less determined little rascals from being able to access the wrong programs.
If you’re still concerned, you’ll need to get a bit more involved.

Monitoring Your Kids

As kids get older, they don’t appreciate being watched all the time. But while society is statistically safer than ever for kids (seriously there aren’t going to be razor blades in the candy, we promise!) that doesn’t exempt us from needing to check in on them. Developing minds need someone to look around corners for them.

Fortunately, Netflix keeps a watch history of everything on your account profiles. Parental controls restrict content by age, but that doesn’t mean you’ll approve of absolutely everything they choose to watch. With the younger kids that may not be an issue; you probably shouldn’t give them free reign over the tube anyway until they’re old enough to be more responsible.

For the teenagers, it’s different. They’re going to want that independence to do what they want; some teenagers will even go as far as figuring out your PIN so they can access shows without you knowing. Of course, few of these teenagers remember that you can check your watch history.

Browse through the profiles now and then to check what they’ve been watching. If there’s something you don’t think is right, it may be time to talk about it. In the toughest case, you may need to change the account password and not leave it signed in. Responsibility and trust should be earned.

Accessing Foreign Content

Believe it or not, there are some superb films and programs available on Netflix—just not to you. Netflix restricts their content regionally, meaning shows might be available in Canada or the UK that aren’t available in the US; the opposite is also true. At the time I wrote this article, “Night at the Museum” was available in Canada but nowhere else.

Luckily that problem can be solved using a service known as a Virtual Private Network (VPN). When subscribed and connected through a VPN, Netflix thinks your location is whatever server you’ve selected (and there are servers throughout the world). Because of that, you can access Netflix content from other countries without actually being there.

But using a VPN isn’t something most of us know a lot about. If you’d like to learn more about setting up your own VPN, Secure Thoughts has a guide specifically for Netflix. It’s a good option should you find yourself needing to travel out of the country or just want access to additional content.

Netflix’s Hidden Settings

Another thing you ought to know about Netflix is its secret menu. Either because the authors felt some users shouldn’t mess with all of the settings or they’re just a fan of hidden settings, there actually are a few “special” settings you can’t usually access. That is, unless you know how.

Those settings are predominantly related to how Netflix loads your videos. If you’ve ever been on unstable or fluctuating internet, you’ve probably run into Netflix buffering videos (pausing to load, essentially). You can actually fix that setting by accessing the secret menu via one of three different methods:

• For PC users, Shift+Alt+Left Click (all at once)
• For Mac users, Shift+Option+Click
• For Game consoles, Up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-up-up-up (also good for extra lives in Konami’s Contra…well almost)

The hidden menu allows you to adjust how your account buffers. With it off, video quality will go down when internet speed goes down, but the video will keep playing. It’s a good trick to know, especially if you and the kids decide to travel. Mom and dad can be patient, but sometimes your toddler won’t be so forgiving.

Subtitles

Closed captioning or subtitles are something you might occasionally like to use on films if the volume levels vary too much or you’re watching films in foreign languages. It can also be a good way to help younger kids practice their reading. But we weren’t all born with perfect 20/20 vision either.

If you go to the Your Account section on Netflix, you can adjust the size and color of subtitles as they appear on your programs. It’s especially useful on the rare film where everything is very brightly colored and your closed captions just happen to be in bright yellow.

Feel like we missed something on Netflix? Having trouble getting settings exactly the way you want? Leave us a comment below so we know!

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Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

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Filed Under: Film & TV, Guest Posts Tagged With: Guest Post, Guide, Netflix, Netflix Guide for Parents, Parental Guide

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Unsung Mum says

    14 August 2016 at

    Love this post. My kids are addicted to Netflix and watching things on demand. I wonder if this will replace live tv in years to come? #KCACOLS.

    Reply
  2. Claire says

    14 August 2016 at

    This isn’t what I thought this would be about, I thought you were going to tell us what to watch! Great post, really useful info. I had no idea these features existed! #kcacols

    Reply
  3. Twicemicrowaved tea says

    14 August 2016 at

    We have Netflix but our little girl is only 20 months so we don’t need worry about parental controls at the moment. These are all definitely handy tips we’re bound to need in the future though – thanks! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  4. Pen says

    14 August 2016 at

    I don’t yet have netflix but was thinking of getting it. I do however have a two year old so this is a really useful post. Thanks Pen x #KCACOLS

    Reply
  5. Rebecca | AAUBlog says

    14 August 2016 at

    I love Netflix, I must admit. I haven;t used it with the kids much but knowing I can set controls is such a great idea #KCACOLS

    Reply
  6. The Geeky Mama says

    15 August 2016 at

    I love this!! Such great information. My family is HUGE Netflix fanatics and honestly, I had no idea a lot of these settings existed. Definitely setting the parental controls and pin# now! 🙂

    #KCACOLS
    Ashley- The Geeky Mama

    Reply
  7. 2travellingtots says

    15 August 2016 at

    This is good to know! Our ‘big one’ does still occasionally watch things on NetFlix although we’ve got one of the Kindle sticks now (or whatever they’re called) but he knows how to use it better than I do! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  8. ThemotherhUb says

    15 August 2016 at

    God I didn’t realise there was so much I didn’t know about Netflix ! Thanks for sharing #kcacols

    Reply
  9. The Hippy Christian Mum says

    16 August 2016 at

    We have just got our 6yr/o a tv in her bedroom and she watches kids netflix on there so this article was right up my street. All the info on parental controls was really useful but I especially liked the VPN tip. Thanks #KCACOLS

    Reply
  10. Min says

    16 August 2016 at

    I’m only just getting to grips with Netflix myself so I’m a bit behind the curve here, but I’m sure that these tips will become increasingly useful as Piglet gets older. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  11. One Messy Mama says

    17 August 2016 at

    I have been wondering about Netflix and how to use it, and if its a better choice than “regular” TV. These are awesome tips, thank you! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  12. Tori @ the mama nurse says

    18 August 2016 at

    This is great info for all of us parent Netflix users! We use it quite frequently,,and it’s nice to know how to access content available in other countries!
    Thanks for hosting #KCACOLS
    Tori @ The Mama Nurse

    Reply
  13. Maria says

    19 August 2016 at

    We are big fans of Netflix here. I used to change the VPN so I could watch Freaks and Geeks which was only in the US #KCACOLS

    Reply
  14. The Mum Reviews says

    19 August 2016 at

    I had no idea Netflix has so many different features. We just stick on Paw Patrol sometimes and let it keep running! Cool that it’s possible to access foreign content too. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  15. Samsam S. says

    19 August 2016 at

    I like parental control features on any device or website to monitor our kids and make sure they don’t get exposed to things that might not be age appropriate for them. Great tips and advice to those mummies that use Netflix #kcacols

    Reply
  16. Silly Mummy says

    20 August 2016 at

    I’m a big fan of Netflix. Have an account set up for the kids, which only has child friendly content. Not got any pin set up to prevent account switching currently but mine are too young to work it out as yet! My ex had VPNs & I did watch the US Office (which I love) that way. I thought Netflix were going after & banning people for that now though?? #KCACOLS

    Reply
  17. Charlotte says

    20 August 2016 at

    We love Netflix in our house, the s have their own profile and watch pokemon all the time on it #
    KCACOLS

    Reply
  18. Tracey bowden says

    20 August 2016 at

    Some good to know things here. Me and Olivia are huge Netflix fans and she has her own profile and is only able to access the kids feature #kcacols

    Reply
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