Field plans for dadsOne page per plan · Friday letter

Home / Start here / Print pack

Your print pack

1 field card, one per page: The transition timer: they press start, then we switch.

Back to Start here

Each card prints on its own US Letter page. No printer? Choose Save as PDF in the print screen (on an iPhone, tap the Share icon there, then Save to Files) and print it later. If the button doesn't work, use your browser's Print.

Dad Field Manual · Field card 100 · Toddlers

The transition timer: they press start, then we switch

Toddlers fight the switch more than the thing you're switching to. Give them the button: one warning, they start the timer, and when it rings, you go. Five minutes to set up, then the same three steps before every change.

Time
5 min
Cost
$0
Ages
1 to 4
Where
Anywhere you switch

What you need

  • A kitchen timer with a big button, or a sand timer
  • A phone timer for outings, with the screen turned so they can tap start

Before you start

  • The timer never decides safety. Running toward the street or a pool gets an immediate stop and a hand to hold, with no countdown.
  • Keep it a tool, not a threat. No "or else" when you set it. The ring means the switch, nothing more.
  • Small timers and their batteries stay with you. Hand over the timer only while you're holding the other end of the game.

Steps

  1. Pick one switch to start with. Start with the one switch that goes worst each day.
  2. Teach it when nobody's upset. Practice once when everyone's calm: they press start, it rings, you switch, you cheer.
  3. Give one warning, as a statement. Get to their level and say, "Two more minutes, then we go home." Not a question.
  4. They press start. Let them press start on a two- to five-minute timer.
  5. When it rings, switch, every time. When it rings, say "Timer says it's time," take their hand and go. No extensions.
  6. Name the win. Afterward, say what they did: "You heard the timer and you came."

If it stalls

  • If they melt down at the ring anyway, keep going and keep your words few. Lecturing an upset toddler doesn't land; a calm hand and "I know, it's hard" does.
  • If they try to reset the timer, keep one hand on it. "You started it once. Now we listen."
Rings we switched on, first time
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date