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Dad Field Manual · Field card 79 · Co-Parenting

Stay close on your off week

The days between your time can feel long, for you and for them. A few set call times, short kid-focused texts and showing up at their events keep you close without stepping on the other house's time. You'll leave with a weekly plan you can share with your co-parent.

Time
30 min to set up
Cost
$0
Ages
3 and up
Where
Your phone, and their games and concerts

What you need

  • Your phone or a tablet for video calls
  • A shared calendar with their games, concerts and school events
  • A card game or coloring page you both have, for younger kids
  • The printed card, to tick off calls and events

Before you start

  • Follow your court order or parenting plan. If it sets call times or contact rules, those come first. Ask a family-law attorney before changing anything. If anyone is in danger, call 911.
  • Calls are for your kid. No questions about the other parent, and no schedule or money business passed through your kid.
  • Keep device rules the same in both homes if you can. Ohio's court guide encourages consistent screen rules across homes and keeping an eye on kids' online activity.

Steps

  1. Propose set call times. Ask your co-parent for one or two set call times a week that fit the other house's dinner and homework.
  2. Keep calls short and about them. Keep calls to about ten minutes, ask about one thing in their week, and never ask about the other house.
  3. Do something together on the call. Play a quick game on video, like Would You Rather or Simon Says, or color the same page.
  4. Send small texts. If they have a phone, send one short text, like "Good luck today," with no need to reply.
  5. Show up at their events. Go to games and concerts on your off week. Cheer, say a short hello, then let them leave with the other house.
  6. End every call the same way. End with the same line and the next day you'll see them, and keep every promise you make.

If it stalls

  • If calls keep getting missed, don't make it your kid's fault. Message your co-parent: "Is there a better time for calls this week?"
  • If your kid doesn't want to talk, keep it to a one-minute hello: "Just wanted to hear your voice. Love you." Short counts.
Off-week calls and events you made
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date