Everyone wants to create special moments for their child that show how great a parent they are or how much they love their kid; often, however, the experience ends on a bad note. This is because all the planning and effort were given to the lead-up and start of the activity with no thought to how the experience would be sustained to the end. When planning a successful activity or outing for your child, the more things that are worked out ahead of time, the better. This does not mean that every second needs to be planned out in its entirety, but it does mean that you should have a plan for the beginning, middle, and end of the activity, with consideration of the possible needs for yourself, your child, and anyone who will be accompanying you. So, when planning, get in the habit of asking the 5 W’s and 1 H—who, what, when, where, why, and how.

• Who is going?
• What are the special considerations? 
• When will the activity take place?
• Where will the activity take place?
• Why is it being done? (Is this a fun activity or a necessary one?)
• How will you get there and get back? (This is not just about location; it is also about attitude.)

Like a good story, an activity is over when you get back to where you originally started, which is a place of rest. Answering these simple questions reduces stress and unnecessary conflict.