Single dad? The goal here is to start steady, not perfect. The early days can be a lot—emotionally, logistically, financially. This mini guide gives you a calm, usable map for the next 30 days so you can be present without pretending to be perfect.
This guide will make your life easier, right now.
PDF digital download
Phone/tablet/laptop friendly
WHAT YOU’LL GET IN TEN MINUTES OF READING
Stability, fast — simple moves to steady sleep/meals and make the week predictable.
Connection on purpose — morning/evening “anchor points” that help your kid feel safe.
Low‑drama co‑parenting — short, neutral communication that keeps kids first.
Solo‑night triage — what to do first when everything feels urgent.
Red‑flag radar — what’s normal, what’s not, and when to call a pro.
SNEAK PEEK INSIDE THE MINI GUIDE
Stabilize the Basics — routine, visual schedules, sleep by age
Streamline Routes to Connection — quick rituals that lower stress
Co‑Parent Confidently — “brief, informative, friendly, firm” scripts
Model Balance & Self‑Preservation — nervous system reset + small weekly habits
Red Flags & When to Call a Pro — the Distress Stoplight
Tap Available Resources — where to get help so you’re not going it alone
Short, sharp, usable tonight.
Newly single dads in the first weeks or months
Amicable, tense, or high‑conflict situations
Single dads navigating limited overnights, long distance,
or unpredictable schedules
Who Is This Guide For?
If you care, you’re qualified—even if you’re exhausted.
Why Trust This?
That’s a very good question.
I’m David Kyle Bond, PhD—developmental psychologist, therapist, faculty associate at Arizona State University, and founder of The Dad School.
I’ve been where you are—and I know how it feels during that first bit of time.
I built this guide to be digestible, evidence-based, and actually usable right after this major life change.
Is it really free?
Yep—this is the short version.
To get it: very simply click the button that says “Get the Free Guide Now.” It’s not instantaneous—you do have to enter your email address and click a few more buttons to download it—but otherwise it’s fairly straightforward.
You can apply what’s inside right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely not. Check out our full guide for a more comprehensive guide to managing this period of time. If you’re interested, you can check out the full guide here.
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Absolutely not. This is general advice based on developmental science and the experience of many newly single men.
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That’s easy: The Dad School also created the full guide (over 40 pages!) covering every single topic you can think of, with extremely detailed descriptions of how best to handle this major transition. It’s the guide that several single dads said they wish they’d had on Day One.
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This is where we’re supposed to sell you something with reckless abandon.
I don’t like that.
If you download this guide, find it a little bit helpful, and just want more detailed instructions, it’s true: the full guide may be for you.
If you download this guide and you’re feeling like you need more emotional support than you do practical support, then let’s skip the whole “buy-the-full-guide!” thing and face it head on: this period of time sucks, it’s not easy to go this road alone, and you don’t have to.
Nobody learns how to play a sport without a coach or a few teammates providing sage locker room guidance; it’s not a big deal to find some support.
There are therapists, coparenting coaches, and life coaches who can support you. The other single dads at your kid’s school are there for you, too. Trust me. I know.
Send us a note through the contact form below and we’ll help guide you to extra forms of support. If that’s the full guide, a class at The Dad School, or external resources, the goal is to get you where you need to be regardless of whether you make a purchase.
We got you, and you got this.
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Check out our full guide for guys in your exact position. More topics. More detail.
If you’re interested, you can click the link below the FAQ section to learn more.
It’s over 40 pages of very clear guidance on only the most important topics.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. You don’t need that sort of stress right now.
Contact us.
Email: hello@thedadschool.org
@thedadschoolofficial
© The Dad School LLC 2025 • Evidence‑based resources for fathers