How to block ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for kids

AI chatbots can be brilliant study buddies, or an easy way to skip the thinking. You can block all of them, some of them, or only during homework.

Updated November 11, 2026·2 min read

Short answer

Sheepdog Filter has an AI chatbots group with ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Meta AI, Grok, Perplexity, DeepSeek and homework-answer apps, each with its own switch. Turn them off for younger kids, or only during homework time. Gemini and Copilot are blocked without breaking Google search or Microsoft Teams.

Block ChatGPT with Sheepdog Filter

  1. Open your dashboard and choose your child (or Home Wi‑Fi for every device in the house).
  2. Go to the Blocking tab and open AI chatbots.
  3. Switch ChatGPT off. It stops loading in the app and the browser within a minute, on every device set up for that child.

Want it only at certain times? Leave it on and add a schedule (for example school nights), or use Homework mode to pause it until a time you pick. Want to make an exception? Tap Allow for a bit and choose 30 minutes, an hour or the rest of the day; it switches back by itself.

Repeat for any others in the group: Google Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI, Grok, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Poe, Le Chat, other AI chat sites and homework answer apps.

Without breaking Google and Microsoft

Gemini and Copilot live alongside Google search and Microsoft 365. Sheepdog Filter blocks only the chatbot parts, so Google search, Google Classroom, Bing and Teams keep working.

A sensible approach by age

  • Under 8: all AI chatbots off (that's the default for this age).
  • 8 to 12: off during homework, or allowed with you nearby.
  • Teens: allowed, with a conversation about using AI to learn rather than to copy.

AI companion apps are different

Apps like Character.AI and Replika are built to be a friend or partner, not a tool. They're a separate group, blocked by default for every age. See AI companion apps.

Sheepdog Filter

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Questions parents ask

Will blocking Gemini break Google search?

No. Sheepdog Filter blocks Gemini's own addresses only, so Google search, Gmail and Classroom are unaffected.

Can I allow ChatGPT except during homework?

Yes. Leave it allowed and use Homework mode or a homework-time schedule.

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