After a foundation is laid, you will need to add a strong structure to fortify their growth.
Articles are updated frequently.
These sections  are organized by age level, but the information is not restricted to that age group. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.

Establish a Consistent Routine 
     Are you frustrated trying to keep your family to a routine that enables you to get out of the house on time in the morning? Are mornings hectic at your home as you try to get your children up and going? Maybe establishing a consistent routine is what is needed to keep your sanity and help you begin a good day every day. 
     A consistent routine gives you and your children power and control and is worth investing your time and effort. It needs to begin your daily activities and opens time for emergencies or new challenges. It is good for all to combat stress and anxiety and brings structure to your lives. Letting your children know your expectations appropriate for your child’s age is important for a positive parent-child relationship. 
            Every day is a journey, and you need to know the best route to complete it. cdc.gov 
     Routines reflect your family’s values and help your children know what is important to you as a family. No two family’s routines will be the same and each to unique and valuable to yours. 
     Beginning each day with the same routine until it becomes a habit takes will power and determination, effort, and patience, but if you do this early in the school year, you will reap great rewards and have happier, well-adjusted children. When kids are able to predict how their morning will go, they feel more secure and in turn, make better choices. It also helps them to know limits and boundaries. There are no video games at all in the morning. Do not let your children hijack your routine. If your older children finish their breakfast before the younger children, let them review their homework or read a book which they can put down quickly when it is time to catch the bus or their ride. 
     If your routine is inconsistent, it becomes confusing for your children. They may develop aggression and hostility or complacency and passivity. They begin to establish bad habits that are difficult to break and give you headaches and more problems. Such behaviors increase stress and anxiety for all of you to begin your days.  
     Structure and routines help kids learn to control their behaviors. Getting the whole family on a schedule eliminates power struggles and gives your children a sense of security. It promotes self-discipline even if it is not their favorite thing, but necessary. It helps parents maintain consistency. 
    Choosing clothes and getting backpacks with completed homework, permission slips, and lunches or lunch money ready the night before and by the door may work. Shoes and jackets can be put there also.  
     Few rules rarely bended, but with flexibility as called for, is suggested by Jessica Orlick at kidscreektherapy.com. The website premieracademyinc.com offers Six Benefits of a Consistent Routine if you as parents need help. Just do your best and keep trying. 

Give Your Children  Money Lessons
        Too many of us and our children have gotten caught in traps that money has caused, or rather the lack of money knowledge. It is up to parents to help their children avoid these traps. When you are having conversations with your children, include those about money often.  
esperian.com suggests the following steps to help children manage their money. 
        Talk to your children as you shop. Let them see you compare prices on the things you buy, even cereal and bread. Use coupons to save money. Allow your children to look for and cut out coupons for cereal, household, and personal items. Show them how using coupons saves money. Let them hand their money and coupons proudly to the cashier.
       Help your children make healthy choices. Look for the best prices iton newspaper or magazine ads and online for the things they want. Help them to save their own money for the desired item or ask for it as a future gift.
        When your children see you using your digital devices to pay, help them to know it is not money at the touch of a button but money that is deducted from your checking or savings account. If you use a credit card, show them you are borrowing money that you have to pay back.
        Give your children lessons about money for their future lives. Talk about money daily, give your children guidance and help them make smart money decisions. 

Plan to Find Joy in Doing Chores
     Giving children chores can make them feel wanted, teach vital life skills--ethics, responsibility, self-reliance, and self-esteem--and help ease the workload for parents. Children are capable of doing much more than parents think. If parents do not expect perfection and help children to know they are part of a team, working together to keep the house clean and neat should not be too much of a challenge. Doing things with their hands releases “feel-good” brain chemicals that protect against depression. Kids who help at home are more confident, resilient, and compassionate, do better in school, and grow up into more successful young adults. Helping cooperatively to keep house reasonably clean and orderly gives pride to all in the family.
          Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that’ll last a lifetime. Catherine Newman
     Children of all ages can help around the house. All children can make their beds each morning. Your family can read books about doing chores (goodreads.com/books about doing chores) or sing songs (moms.com) to make doing chores more joyful but getting the jobs done takes action.
           See The Ultimate List of Age-Appropriate Chores by Robert Myers, Ph.D.
     Elementary-age children can help without constant reminders. For this age, a chore chart or task list will help children check off work as they complete it without someone looking over their shoulder. This requires trust on the part of parents as well as honesty on the part of your children. Honesty is one of the traits you can instill in your children in this way.  You might give rewards such as stars or special time playing computer games for tasks done well and without complaining.
     Doing chores together is an investment with the wonderful dividend of spending time together doing a meaningful activity and enjoying and valuing that time.