Boys & Girls

Raising kids from toddler to twelve. Character, chores, school, screens and the childhood they will thank you for.

The BRO Code. What to do, what not to do, and a few laughs on the way.

The Screen-Time ResetThe honest why, a 30-day reset challenge, 100 things to do instead and a family tech agreement you can print.Start the reset

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Dad, Would You Know What To Do If We Got Lost?

My kids think I can survive anything with a pocketknife and a stern look. I can't. Here's what I've learned since, and what's actually worth knowing.

GuideOutdoorsDean ShawOct 12, 20265 min

The headlamp that belongs in every go-bag

A flashlight needs a hand. When the power's out and a kid's holding yours, you don't have one to spare.

Ask BRO

Build me a revision plan that I will actually stick to

Ask it

GuidePreparednessCal BrennanOct 11, 20265 min

Buy one kind of first aid kit, then buy it twice

The house and the car need the same bag with a few different things inside. Here's the spec profile, the upsells to skip, and what to add yourself.

PartnerWhackAWoke.com

ReviewSurvival & Self-DefenseDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

Grandpa's New Truck Gadget Has a Crank, a Hammer and Opinions

His grandson put an emergency radio, flashlight and window hammer in the truck. Grandpa has questions. Some of them are right.

Poll

Where does your phone charge overnight?

StoryOutdoorsWes DunbarOct 12, 20266 min

The baseplate compass has never needed an update

A chunk of clear plastic, a needle and a bubble of liquid. It still beats every gadget that claims to replace it.

GuidePreparednessWes DunbarOct 11, 20265 min

You can't smell carbon monoxide, so put an alarm on every floor

Carbon monoxide gives no smell and no warning, and the worst nights are the ones when the power's out. Buy the alarm that still works then.

Dude.com — 16 AI advisers who listen, talk and are here with you

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GuideSurvival & Self-DefenseDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

Your survival kit doesn't fit on a wrist

Bracelet kits, credit-card tools and hollow-handle knives sell the feeling of being prepared. Here's what to skip and what to carry instead.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

GuideOutdoorsDean ShawOct 12, 20266 min

A backpack lasts as long as its zipper does

The fabric gets the marketing. The zippers, seams and buckles get the blame when a pack dies on the trail. Here's how to inspect them before you pay.

GuidePreparednessDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

The camp stove that still lights in fifteen years

A good camp stove is simple, fixable and fed by fuel you can actually find. Here's how to judge one before you buy, and where it can safely run.

Ask BRO

What should I wear to this?

Ask it

GuideSurvival & Self-DefenseDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

The water filter that outlasts the trip, and the parts that decide it

A filter can fail without a single visible sign. Here's what wears out, what to read in the warranty, and how to tell a keeper from a one-season gadget.

Delicious.com — Nine thousand recipes and a plan for tonight

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GuideOutdoorsWes DunbarOct 12, 20266 min

The family tent that's still standing in ten years

A tent rarely dies in a storm. It dies from zippers, sunlight and a damp stuff sack. Here's how to buy one that outlasts the kids' growth spurts.

Poll

How often do you see your closest friends?

GuidePreparednessDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

The water jug you can lift when the tap runs dry

A container that cracks, leaks at the spigot or weighs more than you can carry is just a way to feel ready. Here's what to inspect before you fill anything.

GuideSurvival & Self-DefenseWes DunbarOct 10, 20265 min

The spark was never the hard part

A ferro rod throws a fat shower of sparks. The rookie still ends up in the dark. The veteran lights it on the first strike.

Names.com — The name is the first thing you sell

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StoryOutdoorsDean ShawOct 12, 20266 min

Nobody has improved on the hatchet, and plenty have tried

It's a wedge on a stick, and it's been doing the same job at campsites and woodpiles for generations. Here's how to buy one that outlives you.

Quiz

Is your money actually in order?

Six questions. No email required, no sales pitch at the end.

GuidePreparednessDean ShawOct 11, 20264 min

The cornhole boards stay home

One man needs two and a half hours to pack the car for an evacuation and still forgets the medication. Another needs twenty minutes. Same car, same storm.

GuideSurvival & Self-DefenseWes DunbarOct 10, 20265 min