I am also an engineer, so my kids have had contact with advanced IT equipment since early childhood and are quite proficient by now. :-)
We also have a Chromebook with touchscreen at home, mainly so they can comfortably use some Android apps in a controlled environment (the 9 yo doesn’t yet have a smartphone of her own). Chromebooks in school are not really a thing here in Germany afaik.
Both kids have an account on our Linux desktop in our work/office room.
This is set up with a special German DNS that provides age-group appropriate filtered hostlists (“jusprog”).
To integrate that I used dnsmasq, which lets me easily modify the filters if needed.
It’s not perfect, as it could be easily circumvented, but we talk openly about it and I try to minimize severe restrictions, so they feel no need to tamper with it.
The kids are sometimes a little annoyed when something new doesn’t work directly, but know that this is the way that allows them to use the PC relative freely, so they are quite happy with the arrangement for now.
We also have a Linux Laptop and a tiny Mini-PC with Linux Mint attached to the TV, both of which they are only allowed to use with some supervision.
Edit:
They have some games that can be used with their accounts (the usual, Luanti, Supertux, Tuxracer).
The more complex Games are on a special account for which they don’t have the password themselves, but have to ask for access.
Older kid just got really involved in playing Oblivion, so proud! ;-)
I am also an engineer, so my kids have had contact with advanced IT equipment since early childhood and are quite proficient by now. :-)
We also have a Chromebook with touchscreen at home, mainly so they can comfortably use some Android apps in a controlled environment (the 9 yo doesn’t yet have a smartphone of her own). Chromebooks in school are not really a thing here in Germany afaik.
Both kids have an account on our Linux desktop in our work/office room.
This is set up with a special German DNS that provides age-group appropriate filtered hostlists (“jusprog”).
To integrate that I used dnsmasq, which lets me easily modify the filters if needed.
It’s not perfect, as it could be easily circumvented, but we talk openly about it and I try to minimize severe restrictions, so they feel no need to tamper with it.
The kids are sometimes a little annoyed when something new doesn’t work directly, but know that this is the way that allows them to use the PC relative freely, so they are quite happy with the arrangement for now.
We also have a Linux Laptop and a tiny Mini-PC with Linux Mint attached to the TV, both of which they are only allowed to use with some supervision.
Edit:
They have some games that can be used with their accounts (the usual, Luanti, Supertux, Tuxracer).
The more complex Games are on a special account for which they don’t have the password themselves, but have to ask for access.
Older kid just got really involved in playing Oblivion, so proud! ;-)