This was what I posted on 1/25. It has worked fairly reliably on 3 el cap machines I have. That being said, after some time passes with no new software, etc added, some apps that are checked and permitted will not be allowed when they previously were. I have had to delete user and create a new one to overcome. In short, a total nightmare as far as time involved. You must do the steps in order and hit the lock button when backing out at the parental controls and at the user screens. Be sure you back out from the user/groups screen all the way to the sys pref screen and wait there before continuing to change things.
Engineering' advised him to tell me to do this: (it is a compilation of various things people have suggested)
0.5) make sure you are logged out of the user you want to make setting changes on
1) Open System Preferences
2)Users/Accounts
3)Open parental controls (don't go directly to parental controls thru pref)
4)Change one tab at a time (apps, web, stores, time, privacy, other)
5)After making desired changes, hit the lock button then hit the back arrow to take you back to users then back to the sys pref main box
6)Wait 15 sec (I didn't have luck with that brief, I had to wait about 1 minute)
7) repeat the process FOR EVERY TAB YOU WANT TO CHANGE
I so wish this would get fixed.
