# Dad Field Manual

> Step-by-step plans for dads, for every part of the job: indoor and rainy days, money, chores, reading, cooking, emotions and hard conversations, screens, discipline, marriage and teamwork, work and home, dad health and mental health, teens, toddlers, divorced and co-parenting dads, a few outdoor plans, and optional faith pairings. Every plan prints as a one-page field card. National (US). Welcoming to Christians and non-Christians.

How to read this site:

- Every plan carries a test status. "Idea, not yet tested" means the plan was written from published sources (mostly official ones such as the AAP, CDC, CFPB, FDA and NIMH, linked on each plan with the date they were checked) but no one has done it with kids yet. "Tested" means a named adult did it on a stated date, at a stated place, with stated ages, and the misses are logged.
- As of October 2026, no plan has been tested yet.
- Plans give practical parenting guidance only. They are not medical, legal, or custody advice. Co-parenting pages say to talk to a family-law attorney about custody, support or schedules. Mental-health pages point to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).
- Bible story pairings are optional, collapsed by default, appear on only a few outdoor plans, and quote the King James Version (public domain).
- Pages are drafted with AI help. Authorship and test status are stated on every page.
- Start here: https://dadfieldmanual.com/start/ picks plans by kids' ages and time available (URL parameters: age=1-2|3-5|6-9|10-12|13+ (repeatable), time=30|60|120|240|day, optional weather, place, topic, coparent=1).
- Plan index (JSON): https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/index.json

## Plans

- [Skip a stone five times](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/rock-skipping.md): A step-by-step rock-skipping plan for dads and kids: picking stones, the grip, the low sidearm throw, water safety, and age variations. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Build a backyard lean-to](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/lean-to.md): A step-by-step backyard shelter plan for dads and kids: a ridge pole, sticks and leaves, thatched from the bottom up, then tested with a watering can. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A no-flashlight moon walk](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/moon-walk.md): A step-by-step night walk plan for dads and kids: give your eyes twenty minutes to adjust, then walk a path you know by moonlight, listening and counting stars. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Tie a square knot and a bowline](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/knots.md): A step-by-step knot plan for dads and kids: an overhand warm-up, the square knot (right over left, left over right) and the bowline (the rabbit and the tree). Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Find north with a stick and the sun](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/shadow-stick.md): A step-by-step navigation plan for dads and kids: plant a stick, mark the tip of its shadow twice, and draw an east-west line to find north. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Spend, save, give: three jars](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/three-jars.md): A 30-minute kitchen-table plan for dads and kids ages 4 to 9: label three jars, split real money between spend, save and give, and pick a goal worth waiting for. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Grocery price detective](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/price-detective.md): Turn your normal grocery run into a price detective case: your kid finds the unit price on shelf tags, compares sizes and brands, and picks the better deal on five items. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Your kid plans a $20 family outing](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/twenty-dollar-outing.md): Hand your 10- to 14-year-old $20 and a Saturday: they brainstorm, price out and compare options, write a budget, pick the outing and track every dollar on the day. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Read a first pay stub together](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/first-paycheck.md): A 45-minute plan for dads and teens with a first job: read the pay stub line by line, check the math from gross to net, understand the W-4, and decide on a cut to save. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The 10-minute doorway reset after work](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/doorway-reset.md): A 10-minute routine for the end of the workday: close out work, take a few slow breaths before the door, park your phone, and spend the first minutes home on your people. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Show your kid what you do at work](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/show-your-work.md): A 30-minute at-home show-and-tell for dads and kids ages 5 to 12: explain your job in one sentence, show real things from work, walk through a day, and answer the questions kids actually ask. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The 20-minute weekly parent huddle](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/weekly-huddle.md): A 20-minute weekly routine for the adults raising your kids, married, partnered or co-parenting: walk the calendar, split the week's jobs, check one money number and end with one specific thank-you. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Date night at home after bedtime](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/date-night-at-home.md): A 90-minute at-home date night for parents after bedtime: put it on the calendar, park the phones, eat something that isn't a weeknight dinner, ask a few good questions and play one game. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Toy cleanup race: picture bins, a song and a timer](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/toy-cleanup-race.md): A daily toy cleanup routine for toddlers: open bins with picture labels, one short cleanup song and a timer to beat, one toy at a time. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Sort, fold, put away: the laundry crew](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/laundry-crew.md): A 30-minute laundry plan for dads and kids: sort a clean basket by person, match socks, fold towels and shirts, put it all away, and give each kid one laundry job of their own. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A chore chart you'll actually keep](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/chore-chart.md): A 30-minute chore chart plan: list the house's jobs, let kids pick two or three that fit their age, spell out what done looks like, and keep it alive with a 10-minute Sunday review. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Check tire pressure and oil with your teen](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/car-care-basics.md): A 45-minute driveway plan for dads and teens: find the right tire pressure on the door label, check all four tires cold, do the penny test, read the oil dipstick, and make it a monthly job. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Pancake Saturday](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/pancake-saturday.md): A 45-minute pancake plan for dads and kids ages 4 to 10: read the recipe, level the flour, crack the egg, stir just enough, and flip with an adult hand on the spatula. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Make-your-own pizza night](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/pizza-night.md): A 60-minute make-your-own pizza night: set up a toppings bar, stretch the dough, sauce, cheese and toppings, Dad runs the oven, and everyone names and rates their pizza. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Your teen cooks dinner: one-pan chicken](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/teen-cooks-dinner.md): A 90-minute plan where your teen plans, shops for and cooks a one-pan chicken and vegetable dinner, checks it with a food thermometer (165°F), and cleans up. You're the assistant. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Toddler snack helper: wash, tear, stir, pour](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/snack-helper.md): A 20-minute snack plan for toddlers ages 2 to 4: rinse fruit, tear and mash soft food, stir yogurt, pour from a small pitcher, then sit down to eat what they made. Choking-safe food sizes included. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Picture-book point-and-name for toddlers](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/point-and-name.md): A 15-minute picture-book routine for 1- to 3-year-olds: point, name, ask "Where's the dog?" and wait for them to point back. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Library card day: their own card, their own books](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/library-card-day.md): Take your kid to get their own library card, learn where the books live, and check out a stack they chose themselves. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Chapter-book nights: 20 minutes, voices, cliffhangers](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/read-aloud-voices.md): A read-aloud routine for ages 6 to 11: one chapter book, 20 minutes a night, a voice for every character, and a stop right when it gets good. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A two-person book club with your teen](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/two-person-book-club.md): You and your teen read the same book, mark two spots each, and talk about it over food once every week or two. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Blanket-fort reading den](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/blanket-fort-den.md): Build a blanket fort, stock it with pillows, a flashlight and books, and read in it together. A 45-minute rainy-day plan for ages 2 to 8. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Cardboard marble run on the wall or a box](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/cardboard-marble-run.md): Turn paper-towel tubes and a cardboard box into a marble run taped to the wall or a big box. Build one piece at a time and test every drop. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Rainy-day hallway obstacle course](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/hallway-obstacle-course.md): Cushions, tape and a blanket tunnel turn a hallway into five stations for kids 2 to 6. Run it, time it, and let them redesign it. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Make a family media plan together](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/family-media-plan.md): Use the free AAP Family Media Plan with your kids to pick screen-free places and times, and what each person commits to, including you. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The screen-free swap box](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/screen-swap-box.md): Build a box of ten ready-to-go activities with your kid, so when screen time ends or someone says "I'm bored," the next thing is already packed. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The first-phone talk and agreement](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/first-phone-talk.md): A 45-minute talk before your kid's first phone: why they want it, what it starts with, rules you write together, and one that never changes. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Living-room campout](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/living-room-campout.md): Camp overnight on the living-room floor: pitch a tent or fort, play flashlight games, tell a story and sleep on the floor. Battery lights only. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The feelings check-in: a number, a word, what helps](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/feelings-check-in.md): A 15-minute plan for dads and kids ages 3 to 8: draw a 1–5 feelings scale, go first yourself, help your kid find a feeling word, and ask what would help. Then make it a daily habit. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The car-ride talk: hard topics, side by side](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/car-ride-talk.md): A 20-minute plan for dads of kids 10 and up: use a car ride to open a hard topic, ask one question at a time, listen more than you talk, say your one thing, and end before the driveway. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Talking with your kid about scary news](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/scary-news-talk.md): A 20-minute plan for dads of kids 6 to 14, built on AAP guidance: get steady first, ask what they've heard, share simple facts without graphic details, be honest about safety, and make a plan for the news. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Repair after you lose your temper](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/repair-after-yelling.md): A 10-minute plan for dads who yelled: step away safely, come back calm, apologize without a “but,” name what your kid felt, say what you'll do next time, and reconnect before you deal with the original problem. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Set up a calm-down corner](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/calm-down-corner.md): A 30-minute plan for dads of kids 2 to 7: pick a cozy spot together, stock it with a few calm things, make a feelings sign, practice when everyone's calm, and learn when it's a calm-down moment and when it's a time-out. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A week of “when-then”: calm limits that stick](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/when-then-week.md): A one-week plan for dads of kids 2 to 8: pick three daily battles, say each limit once as “When the shoes are on, then we go,” get close, wait, offer two choices, and follow through the same way every day. About 10 minutes a day. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The after-dinner family walk](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/after-dinner-walk.md): A 30-minute daily routine for dads and kids of any age: same time, same door, a 20- to 30-minute loop, a talking game, and phones in pockets. Five walks a week gets you to the CDC's 150 minutes of moderate activity. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Book your checkup and fix your sleep](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/dad-checkup-and-sleep.md): A 30-minute plan for dads: book the annual physical, write down your top three questions, gather your health basics, and set a sleep window with a wind-down alarm so you get at least 7 hours. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A 10-minute reset for hard days](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/ten-minute-reset.md): A 10-minute plan for dads on hard days: make the kids safe, step away, slow your breathing, move your body, text one person, and come back with one sentence. Includes the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Telling your kids about the divorce](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/telling-kids-about-divorce.md): A plan for telling kids their parents are splitting up: together if you can, the exact words, what to say at each age, and what never to say. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A calm handoff-day routine](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/handoff-day-routine.md): A printable handoff-day routine for co-parenting dads: pack the bag the night before, keep the exchange short and friendly, say goodbye the same way every time, and go easy in the first hour back. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The first night back at Dad's](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/first-night-back.md): A two-hour first-night routine for when the kids come back to your place: their own space, a meal you make together, a low-key talk and the bedtime they know. Ordinary on purpose. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Long-distance read-along by video call](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/long-distance-read-along.md): A 20-minute video-call routine for dads who live far from their kids: the same book in both homes, a set night, taking turns reading and a call that ends well. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The monthly money date with your partner](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/money-date.md): A 45-minute monthly sit-down for you and your partner: look at what came in and went out, sort who pays which bill, pick one shared savings goal and agree on a no-surprises rule for big purchases. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Split the invisible jobs: a who-does-what list](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/split-the-load.md): A 30-minute routine for you and your partner: list the household jobs nobody sees, like permission slips, doctor appointments, birthday gifts and refills, give each one a single owner from start to finish, and review the list in a month. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Set a holiday gift budget with your kids](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/holiday-gift-budget.md): A 45-minute plan for kids 6 to 14: give them a set gift amount, list the people they're buying for, check real prices, plan one handmade gift and track every dollar on paper. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A 20-minute family workout in the living room](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/family-workout.md): A 20-minute living-room workout for dads and kids 4 to 14: a 3-minute warm-up, six bodyweight stations twice through (jumping jacks, wall sit, bear crawl, push-ups, squats, high knees), and a cool-down. Your push-ups count toward your weekly muscle work. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Build a real-food dinner together](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/real-food-dinner.md): A 60-minute plan for dads and kids 5 to 12: sketch dinner as protein, vegetables and fruit, and a whole grain, check the fridge, shop for what's missing, and cook it together with kid-sized jobs and a food thermometer. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Know your numbers: blood pressure at home](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/know-your-numbers.md): A 30-minute setup for dads: get an approved cuff or use a pharmacy machine, skip caffeine and exercise for 30 minutes, sit with your back supported, feet flat and arm on a table, take two readings a minute or two apart, write them down, and bring the log to your doctor. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Water-safety rules before summer swimming](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/water-safety-rules.md): A 30-minute talk for dads and kids 3 to 12 before the first swim of summer: name a water watcher with no phone, make a watcher card, agree four rules, fit life jackets, practice calling for help, and agree that thunder means out. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Park the phones outside the bedrooms](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/phone-parking-spot.md): A 30-minute setup for dads of kids 8 to 17: pick one charging spot in a shared room, set a nightly time when every device parks there (yours too), and solve the alarm problem with a plain clock. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Play their video game with them](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/play-their-game.md): A 45-minute plan for dads of kids 6 to 14: your kid teaches you the game they love, you ask open questions instead of judging, then you check the ESRB rating, chat and purchase settings side by side. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Catch them being good: a week of specific praise](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/catch-them-being-good.md): A one-week plan for dads of kids 2 to 10: pick two behaviors to catch, praise them the moment you see them with words that name exactly what your kid did, and keep a fridge tally of praise next to corrections. About 10 minutes a day. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Consequences that fit: logical, not harsh](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/consequences-that-fit.md): A 20-minute plan for dads of kids 3 to 12: learn natural versus logical consequences, write fitting ones for three repeat problems while you're calm, tell your kid ahead of time, and follow through with one calm sentence. No spanking. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The school-morning launch pad](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/school-morning-launch-pad.md): A 30-minute setup for school mornings: one spot by the door for backpack, shoes and lunch, a five-item night-before checklist (with pictures for younger kids), and a bedtime counted back from wake-up time. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [The first-week-of-school check-in](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/first-week-school-check-in.md): A 15-minute daily check-in for the first week of school: better questions than “How was school?”, how to listen without fixing, the warning signs of bullying to watch for, and when to contact the teacher. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [A summer reading streak](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/summer-reading-streak.md): A summer-long reading routine for kids 4 to 12: a paper streak chart with one box per day, 20 minutes of any kind of reading (read-aloud counts), books they choose, a library visit in week one and a small celebration at the end. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.
- [Build a family emergency kit together](https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/family-emergency-kit.md): A one-hour plan for building a basic emergency kit with kids 6 to 14: hunt the house for items on the Ready.gov list, do the water math (a gallon per person per day), choose flashlights over candles, make a contact card and meeting spot, and set two check dates a year. Not yet tested. Status: idea, not yet tested.

## Topics

- [Indoor & Rainy Day](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/indoor/): Rainy-day plans for dads and kids, built from what's already in the house: a blanket-fort reading den, a cardboard marble run, a hallway obstacle course and a living-room campout.
- [Divorced & Co-Parenting Dads](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/co-parenting/): Plans and field notes for divorced, separated and co-parenting dads: telling kids about the split, calm handoffs, the first night back, two-home checklists, messaging your co-parent, long-distance reading, new partners and taking care of yourself.
- [Money](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/money/): Practical plans for teaching kids about money, from a savings jar at 4 to a first pay stub at 16: spending, saving, giving, comparing prices and budgeting.
- [Chores](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/chores/): Practical chore plans for dads: toddler toy cleanup, a laundry crew, a chore chart that lasts, and teaching teens to check the car, with age-appropriate jobs from AAP guidance.
- [Reading](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/reading/): Practical reading plans for dads: picture-book pointing with toddlers, a first library card, chapter-book read-alouds with voices, and a two-person book club with your teen.
- [Cooking](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/cooking/): Cooking plans for dads and kids: toddler snack helpers, Pancake Saturday, make-your-own pizza night and a dinner your teen plans and cooks, with food-safety basics from FDA, CDC and FoodSafety.gov.
- [Emotions & Hard Conversations](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/hard-conversations/): Practical plans for dads on feelings and hard talks: a daily feelings check-in, car-ride conversations with teens, talking about scary news, repairing after you yell, and what big feelings look like at each age.
- [Screens](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/screens/): Practical screen-time plans for dads: make a family media plan with the free AAP tool, build a screen-free swap box, and have the first-phone talk and agreement.
- [Discipline](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/discipline/): Practical discipline plans for dads of toddlers through teens: clear when-then limits, a calm-down corner versus time-out, and how to repair after you lose your temper. No spanking, no shaming.
- [Marriage & Teamwork](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/marriage/): Plans for the adults raising kids together, married, partnered or co-parenting: a 20-minute weekly huddle, money talks that don't turn into fights, and date night at home after bedtime.
- [Work & Home](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/work-home/): Short, practical plans for working dads: leave work at the door, show your kids what you do all day, and keep the household running with a weekly check-in.
- [Dad Health](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/dad-health/): Practical health plans for dads: book your checkup, set a sleep window that gets you 7 hours, and build a family walk into the evening. Based on CDC and AASM guidance.
- [Dad Mental Health](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/dad-mental-health/): Plans and field notes on dad mental health: how depression shows up in men and new dads, a 10-minute reset for hard days, and where to get help. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.
- [Teens](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/teens/): Practical plans for dads of tweens and teens: side-by-side car-ride talks, how to listen without lecturing, what big feelings look like in the teen years, and the warning signs that need a doctor.
- [Toddlers](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/toddlers/): Plans for dads of 1- to 3-year-olds: a toy cleanup race, a toddler snack helper and more, with choking-safety basics from AAP and CDC.
- [Outdoors](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/outdoors/): Outdoor plans for dads and kids: skip a stone, build a lean-to frame, find north with a stick and the sun, a no-flashlight moon walk, and an after-dinner family walk.
- [Faith (optional)](https://dadfieldmanual.com/topics/faith/): Optional, folded-shut Bible story pairings for a few Dad Field Manual plans: a five-minute story that fits the day. Skip them and every plan works the same.

## Seasonal collections

- [Back to school](https://dadfieldmanual.com/collections/back-to-school/): Plans for the start of a school year: smoother mornings, bedtimes, chores, reading routines, phones, and the talk about how school is really going. Each prints on one page.
- [Winter indoor days](https://dadfieldmanual.com/collections/winter-indoor/): Plans for cold, dark or snowed-in days at home: forts, campouts, kitchen projects, games and reading. Each prints on one page.
- [Summer break](https://dadfieldmanual.com/collections/summer-break/): Plans for long summer days off school: outdoor skills, evening walks, kids planning an outing, cooking, a reading streak, and water safety. Each prints on one page.
- [Holidays](https://dadfieldmanual.com/collections/holidays/): Plans for the holiday season and the days off around it: a gift budget, giving, slow mornings, long car rides, family time, and calm handoffs between two homes. Each prints on one page.

## Field notes

- [Dads get depressed too: signs and where to get help](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/dads-and-depression/): Depression in men often looks like anger, irritability, drinking or overwork rather than sadness, and new dads can get perinatal depression too. The signs, what treatment looks like, and how to take the first step. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.
- [How to message your co-parent](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/co-parent-messages/): How co-parenting dads can write messages that get answered and don't start fights: keep it brief, factual and about the kids, use a simple template and a shared calendar, and know when not to reply.
- [How to stay a team after kids arrive](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/teamwork-after-kids/): How you and your partner can stay on the same side after kids: split the invisible work, argue in a way kids can learn from, protect time for the two of you, and know when to get help.
- [New partner and blended-family basics](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/new-partner-basics/): How to bring a new partner into your kids' lives: go slower than you want to, keep introductions low-key, let the new adult be a friend before a rule-maker, and help kids with mixed loyalties.
- [Taking care of yourself after divorce](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/dad-after-divorce/): For dads after a divorce or breakup: what's normal, the signs it's more than a rough patch, what to do this week, and why your kids shouldn't be your support system. Call or text 988 in a crisis.
- [The two-home checklist](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/two-homes-checklist/): A printable checklist for kids with two homes: what to keep at both houses, what goes in the bag, and the doctor, school, medicine and allergy info both parents should have.
- [What big feelings look like at each age, and what helps](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/big-feelings-by-age/): What big emotions usually look like in toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids and teens, what helps at each age, and the signs that mean it's time to call the doctor. Based on AAP guidance.
- [What kids can learn about money at each age](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/money-by-age/): What kids can learn about money at ages 3 to 5, 6 to 12 and the teen years, drawn from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Money as You Grow, with simple things to do at each stage.
- [Which chores fit which ages, and how to get them done without nagging](https://dadfieldmanual.com/notes/chores-by-age/): Which chores fit kids at each age, from toddlers to teens, based on AAP guidance, plus how to hand them over and get them done without nagging.

## About

- [About](https://dadfieldmanual.com/about/): Who writes this, how we use AI, how we test, how we make money, and contact
- [Tested Log](https://dadfieldmanual.com/log/): Dated record of every real test