Appropriate age group(s):
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Description of technique for dealing with temper tantrums:
Going to the park with your kids sounds like fun, right? It is, until it's time to leave.

Hang out at your local park for at least fifteen minutes, and you are sure to see at least one parent carrying out her child kicking and screaming. Here are some ideas that can help you exit peacefully most of the time.

Don't go to the park if you don't have a fair amount of time to enjoy it. Telling your child they have to leave after only 5 minutes isn't fair or fun.

Explain the rules ahead of time. For example, "Today we will go to the park to play, and then we'll come back home and have lunch." This can help them to understand the routine of the day and when you say, "It's time to go home for lunch", it will not be an unexpected surprise.

Give your child a fair warning before you have to pack up and go. The five minute warning works for some children, but for the really young ones, you might want to tell them they can go down the slide three more times or walk across the balance beam one more time. Numbers, instead of time, can be more easily understood.

Once you say it's time to go, you'd better get going. Giving in will only make it harder for you to leave the park next time.

Other suggestions or comments:
The "whys" of this type of tantrum:
The park is fun, why leave?
Hunger or Tiredness from play.