Establishing routines and patterns of behavior are important aids for children. Much of family conflict revolves around getting from one place to another or from one activity to another. Parents come for counseling because their children resist getting up in the morning, feel anxious over homework, dispute parent?s instructions, or delay in getting ready when the family needs to get somewhere. These difficulties can last into the teenage years and can leave the emerging young adult incapable of coping with independence and responsibility. Some household adjustments can help remedy the challenges in the present and prevent future problems. As parents, it is our job to train our children to become successful adults. Successful routines are at the core of independence and responsibility. Babies learn feeding patterns, nap patterns, and play patterns. Toddlers learn waking patterns, snack patterns, and clean up patterns. Preschoolers learn activity patter how to write an article ns, sitting and listening, and bedtime patterns. Elementary school children learn chore patterns, homework patterns, and social patterns. These patterns are not innate; they are learned. Parents are the teachers. Thus parents must teach these routines with the patience and encouragement of a professional. Although so much of what we ask may seem simple, a child may find them complicated. There are four major routines children must establish during elementary school: Morning Routine: This pattern includes getting up on time, making their beds, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, washing up, packing lunches and getting their backpacks ready. School Routine: The teacher and the school establish this pattern but it can be a very complicated set of behaviors and thought patterns. After School Routine: Transitioning from school to home or an activity is a pattern in and of itself. This pattern might include snacks, breaks, sports and homework.