Give your child a reasonable amount of forewarning if you know you’re going to be headed somewhere—at least an hour or two in advance—to get him ready mentally. Remind him a few minutes before you want to get ready to go.

Have your child pick something to take with you on your outing—this will invest him in the trip.

“Talk up” whatever it is you’re headed to: “I wonder if we’ll see any rainbows on the way to Grandma’s.” (The negative version also works: “I hope they don’t run out of ice cream before we get there—we’re taking sooooooo long.”)