You said it was time to go. Now your toddler is crying, other parents are watching, and you can feel the pull to explain again, give five more minutes, or promise a treat. This short guide is about that exact stretch of time: the last five minutes at the playground.

The plan is on the first pages, so you can use it before today’s visit: decide the limit at home, give a 5-minute and a 1-minute warning, say the limit once, then repeat the same short sentence while you leave. No scripts to memorize, no behavior charts, no lectures about why the park has to end.

Inside: how to spot the moment the exit starts to tighten, how to keep your answer separate from your child’s feelings, what to say when the protest continues, and short, safety-first steps for carrying a child out, a child who runs off, and a child who hits or kicks. Then a review of one departure so you can adjust the next one. Two printable tools use the same three labels (Decide, Say It, Repeat It): the Playground Exit Card and the After Moment Review Sheet.

Written for parents of 2 to 5 year olds. It will not stop every tantrum. It helps you stay calm and consistent from the warning to the car.