Frustrated with Microsoft Family accounts (parental controls)

Up until recently it was pretty easy to use Microsoft Family Safety to manage your child's time and access on a Windows PC. Install the software, create a local account, manage the account online.

Things changed a bit with Windows 10 and I am now trying to get around configuring our daughter's access to our laptops at home but so far hitting a roadblock around Microsoft accounts.

There are many reasons why I want to do this. First is to make sure we have a set policy around screen time, and this is enforced. Second we want to monitor activities, websites, etc. And obviously filter out whatever is not desirable. I also wanted to be able to monitor her Microsoft Store account to make sure she is not installing anything she shouldn't and perhaps block in-app purchases (in case I put some money on her account to buy a game or two).

I tried adding "family" members through the Windows Settings, a feature that requires everyone in the family to have a Microsoft account (no surprise here) but the email invites never arrived and the accounts still show as "Pending".

Never mind, let's try this through the "Family " tab in the Microsoft Account website. I invited my daughter (who interestingly is listed as adult on her own account, despite the date of birth clearly showing she is not yet an adult). The email arrived but when I clicked the link it says she's already member of my family. I log into my own account and she's not listed. I tried the other way around - sending an "Adult" invite from her account to mine, and again the link doesn't work.

At the moment I am using Norton Family for Parental Control, which works well to monitor, block and filter activities (and on Android too) but I still want control on the Microsoft account itself.

Frustrating.