A Quick Guide

Opening Your
Downloaded Files

The worksheets and checklists on this site are Microsoft Word documents (files ending in .docx). Almost every computer and tablet already has something that can open them — you just need to know where to look.

If you've downloaded a file from one of the book pages and aren't sure what to do next, you're in the right place. This guide walks you through it step by step, depending on the device you're using.

The goal of these downloads is that you can fill them in on your computer, save them, print them, and share them with family members. You don't need to buy any software to do that — read on.

1. Try This First

Before anything else: find the file you downloaded (it's usually in your Downloads folder), and double-click it. On most devices, something will open and display the document. If that works, you're done — skip to the section about saving and editing below.

If double-clicking didn't open anything useful, find your device below.

2. If You Have a Mac

Every Mac comes with a free program called Pages that opens Word documents. It's already installed.

  1. Find the downloaded file in your Downloads folder (open Finder, then click "Downloads" in the sidebar).
  2. Double-click the file. Pages should open automatically.
  3. If it asks "Convert to Pages?" — click Convert. The worksheet will open and you can type directly into it.
  4. When you're done, go to File → Save (or press Command-S) to save your work.

3. If You Have a Windows Computer

Windows has a couple of different options depending on what's already on your computer.

If you already have Microsoft Word

Just double-click the file. Word will open it.

If you don't have Microsoft Word

Windows 10 and 11 usually include a program called WordPad that can open Word documents. Double-click the file and see if it opens. If not, try this:

  1. Right-click the file in your Downloads folder.
  2. Choose Open with.
  3. Pick WordPad from the list (or if you see Word, that also works).
No luck? You can also use Word for free in your web browser. Go to www.office.com, sign in with a free Microsoft account, and upload the file there.

4. If You Have an iPad or iPhone

  1. After you tap the download link, your device will usually show a brief message that the file is being downloaded.
  2. Tap the file (or look in your Files app, under "Downloads") to open it.
  3. If it doesn't open on its own, tap the share icon (the square with the arrow pointing up) and choose Pages (if you have an Apple device) or Word if you've installed the free Microsoft Word app.

5. If You Prefer Google Docs

If you already use Gmail or another Google service, you can edit these worksheets right in Google Docs — no other software needed.

  1. Go to drive.google.com in your web browser and sign in.
  2. Click the + New button near the top left, then choose File upload.
  3. Select the worksheet file you downloaded from this site.
  4. Once it's uploaded, double-click the file name in Google Drive to open it.
  5. When it opens as a Google Doc, you can type directly into it. Your changes save automatically.
A small note When you edit a file in Google Docs, it stays in your Google Drive — not on your computer. That's fine for most people. If you want a copy on your computer afterward, use File → Download inside the Google Doc and pick Microsoft Word (.docx).

6. Saving and Editing Your Work

Whatever program you end up using, the pattern is the same: open the file, type your answers or check the boxes, then save it. You're creating your own personal copy — the original on this site stays the same, so you can always come back and download a fresh blank version later if you need one.

7. Still Stuck?

If you've tried the steps above and still can't get a file to open, please don't give up. I'd rather hear from you than have you miss out on tools that were made for people in exactly your situation. Drop me a note and I'll help you figure it out.