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Dad Toolbox

Dad Toolbox

By: Sean Croon
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The hardest challenge I ever faced is being a modern Dad.


I know so many good men who want to show up for their children but don’t have the tools, and are held back by unrealistic expectations, conflicting advice and an isolating societal structure.


The Dad Toolbox podcast is stage one of solving this problem.


No fluff, no celebrity stories, no comedic gold. This is parenting education for Dads.


We offer practical and scientifically-validated tools, insights and ideas curated from parenting experts, including coaches, therapists, scientists and authors.


In just 30 mins per week, you are going to level up your Dad Toolbox to better support your family and children. This is a game-changer for Dads who want to show up as both a parent and a provider.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Croon Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships
Episodes
  • 4. How to build a sense of belonging before your kids look elsewhere - Ancestor Altar

    4. How to build a sense of belonging before your kids look elsewhere - Ancestor Altar
    Aug 16 2026

    If we don’t help our kids find somewhere they belong, they’ll go looking for it somewhere else. And as parents, we might not always like where they find it.


    A strong sense of belonging can help our kids understand who they are, where they come from and where they fit in the world.


    Our guest today is Thomas Keily, a father, poet, writer and economist. He uses a tool called the Ancestor Altar to build a sense of belonging in his own family, including a brilliant ritual that connects his kids with the stories, struggles and people that came before them.


    As part of discussing today's tool, we talked about measures of success as a parent. A shared family value both of us feel is important is for our children to have a sense of belonging, which leads us into today's episode…


    In this episode, Thomas shares:


    • What exactly an Ancestor Altar is.
    • How an Ancestor Altar can help your kids understand where they come from and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
    • A simple way to create your own Ancestor Altar using family photos, stories, food and meaningful objects.
    • Why sharing both the good and difficult stories from your family history can help build resilience and a stronger sense of identity.
    • How he incorporated Halloween into this family ritual and made it more than a lolly grab.
    • Why creating a strong sense of belonging at home matters, especially as kids get older and start looking for places to fit in.
    • How learning about your ancestors can help put your own challenges into perspective and remind you of the strength that runs through your family.
    • How rituals around remembering loved ones can give kids a way to understand grief, death and what it means to remember someone after they’re gone.
    • Why family traditions don’t need to be inherited. You can deliberately create rituals and meaning that reflect the kind of family you want to be.



    KEY QUOTES


    “If we don't help their kids find their belonging, they will go and find belonging somewhere.”


    “You belong here. There's a place for you. You fit in the weave in whatever way it is, but you're supposed to be here.”



    GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST ONLINE


    • Join our community of Dads on Facebook.
    • Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolbox
    • Follow on Youtube.
    • Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.
    • Find out more at https://linktr.ee/dadtoolbox



    SUPPORTING RESEARCH


    Download a compilation of the papers and books used to research this topic.




    Podcast produced by The Podcast Butler


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    32 mins
  • 3. What every Dad should know about periods - Period Savvy Dads

    3. What every Dad should know about periods - Period Savvy Dads
    Aug 9 2026
    The title may suggest this episode is just for Girl Dads, but trust me, after recording this, I feel this is an episode that will help every Dad, even if it’s just supporting them to be a better partner.Our tool in this episode is called Period Savvy Dads, and as you might guess, it is all about creating a home where periods are understood rather than treated as awkward or ignored, and understanding the menstrual cycle so you can better support your daughter (and partners and friends) with empathy, confidence and practical help.To help us learn this tool, I am joined by Karin Lucia Gisler, a qualified counsellor, youth mentor and family support practitioner with more than 10 years of experience supporting young people and families. A mother of two teens herself, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to help families navigate communication, emotional challenges and major life transitions.In this episode she shares:Why Dads' understanding of periods can strengthen their relationship with their daughters, especially as they go through puberty. A simple way to understand the different phases of the menstrual cycle and the changing energy and needs that come with them. How the way Dads talk about periods can shape their daughter’s own relationship with menstruation and their body. How to best support your daughter (and partner) during her period, and recognising that her needs can change from cycle to cycle. Why using correct anatomical language matters when talking to your kids about their bodies. Practical ways to prepare your daughter for her first period, including putting together a period kit for school or sport. Why your reaction to your daughter’s first period matters, and how to acknowledge it as an important moment without making it uncomfortable. Why boys should understand the menstrual cycle too, and how the whole family can support each other rather than treating periods as “women’s business.”Key Quotes“Never underestimate the power that a father figure has in the daughter's life.”“The more open our conversations are around the menstrual cycle, around periods, the more likely she will have a positive experience as well.”“Boys need to know about the menstrual cycle too, how that all works, about the different phases and how to be a supportive brother or later in life a supportive partner.”Period Savvy Dads ResourcesExclusive free downloadable eBook: Support Your Teen/Tween to Cultivate Menstrual Positivity (for Dads)Counselling and parenting supportPeriod Savvy Dads online courseLet's Talk: Sex Ed eBook for Teens & ParentsYouth and parent programsMore About Karin LuciaFind out more via Karin Lucia’s website.Or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.Get Involved With The Podcast OnlineJoin our community of Dads on Facebook.Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolboxFollow on Youtube.Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.Supporting Research Dhingra, R., Chauhan, K. S., & Kachroo, N. (2017). Parent adolescent communication related to pubertal issues. International Journal of Home Science, 3(3), 74–78. Kalman, M. (2003). Adolescent girls, single-parent fathers, and menarche. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17(1), 36–40.LeBlanc, S. S. (2024). Breaking the cycle: Memorable messages of “grin n' bear it” and silence in menarche narrative recall. Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, 8(2), Article 12239. Nurhaisa, S., Wahyuni, S., & Susanto, H. (2026). Effectiveness of health belief model-based reproductive health education on menarche preparedness: A systematic review. Lentera Perawat, 7(2), 314–326.Suttor, H., Yamayanti, K. P., Purni Astiti, N. L. E., Dewi, T., Ansariadi, A., Hennegan, J., & Chenhall, R. D. (2025). Tracking the changing body with care: a qualitative study on menstrual cycle tracking among adolescent girls in Bali, Indonesia. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 30(1), Article 2539444. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    33 mins
  • 2. The secret to raising kids with strong values - The Family Code

    2. The secret to raising kids with strong values - The Family Code
    Aug 9 2026

    What values do you want to instil in your children? And how do you plan to instil then?

    There is a tool called The Family Code which enables you to identify your family values, and support your children to embody and live those values as they grow up.


    To share this tool with us today is Blase Grinner. Blase is a men’s transformational coach, mentor and father of two who helps men find greater purpose, confidence and direction in their lives. Drawing on his own journey through addiction, insecurity and destructive behaviours, as well as more than a decade of leadership and mentoring experience, Blase now works with men to better understand themselves, take accountability and build more purposeful and fulfilling lives.


    In this episode he shares:



    • How the values he learned from his mum shaped the way he now approaches fatherhood.
    • Why knowing what you stand for gives you a compass for making decisions as a Dad.
    • The three stages of shaping personal values and identity as our kids grow up.
    • How to narrow down the values that really matter to you and turn them into a Family Code.
    • How Blase and his wife brought their individual values together to create shared family values.
    • A practical way to teach young kids what values like kindness actually look like in everyday life.
    • Why giving kids a voice in your family values becomes increasingly important as they get older.
    • How family values can give kids a framework for making their own decisions, even when they’re facing pressure from friends, school or different households.


    Key Quotes


    “The values is your compass, your vision is a map, and you walk that path of being a man on purpose.”


    “It doesn't mean it's right, it doesn't mean it's wrong, but it shows you where you could improve if you wanted to.”


    “You're never going to get it right the first time.”


    More About Blase


    Find out more via Blase’s website.

    Or follow him on YouTube or Instagram.


    Get Involved With The Podcast Online


    Join our community of Dads on Facebook.

    Follow on Instagram: @Dad_toolbox

    Follow on Youtube.

    Sign up for weekly Dad tools, advice and support.


    Supporting Research


    • Elsayed, W. (2024). Building a better society: The Vital role of Family's social values in creating a culture of giving in young Children's minds. Heliyon, 10(7), e29208.
    • Family values | Religion and Philosophy | Research Starters. (1995, April 6). EBSCO.
    • Frosch, C. A., Schoppe-Sullivan, S. J., & O’Banion, D. D.
    • Irviana L, Feranita F, Ge B (2025), "Family values, emotions and succession intentions among Asian Gen Z: a qualitative multi-country exploration". Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 17 No. 6 pp. 1533–1561
    • Roman, N.V.; Balogun, T.V.; Butler-Kruger, L.; Danga, S.D.; Therese de Lange, J.; Human-Hendricks, A.; Thelma Khaile, F.; October, K.R.; Olabiyi, O.J. Strengthening Family Bonds: A Systematic Review of Factors and Interventions That Enhance Family Cohesion. Soc. Sci. 2025, 14, 371.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 mins
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