Easy (free) ways to lock your kid out of the computer

In Windows, do this:

• Create a user account for your child(ren). Set the account to “Limited.” See Windows Help for your specific version by clicking the Start button, then clicking Help and Support. Search for “user accounts”.
• Create user accounts for anyone else who uses your computer, and give them Administrator or Limited accounts.
• You can lock Windows at any time by clicking the Windows button (located between the Ctrl and Alt buttons on your keyboard) and the L key. While holding the Windows button, press the L key to lock it. Lock your computer any time you leave it.
• Set the screensaver to activate in 5 minutes, and set it to display the welcome screen (the screen that displays the user account login options) when you move the mouse or press a key. Do this by clicking the Start button, then go into Control Panel, and open the Display settings. Set your screensaver to activate in 5 minutes, and click the checkbox labeled “On resume, display the welcome screen”.
• Remove the Turn Off Computer button from your welcome screen. See this Microsoft website for instructions (applies to Windows XP).

See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/default.mspx or search Windows Help on your computer for more info.