Kids like routine. I started Zach on a strict routine when he was a baby, and he did great. Great sleeper, great eater, always happy. Same with Elizabeth- although I'm not as strict. I can't be. It is either put her to bed or put him to bed, so sometimes she is first and sometimes he is first. Dad is at work a lot right now for busy season, but tries to help with putting kids to bed before he has to go back.
One routine that pays off is praying together. When we have been doing consistent family prayers, then Zach is good at keeping his arms folded and likes to offer the prayer. When things are crazy and bedtimes are off and Zach eats a separate meal from us so he doesn't always have to be at the table for the prayer, things fall apart. He isn't good about folding his arms and sometimes makes noises to bug us.
One thing he loves doing is making sure you bless President Monson when you pray. He will call you out on it if you don't bless him.
My visiting teachers came today and we talked about scripture study and how sometimes just the consistency and routine of reading is what we enjoy. Some days I am getting so much out of the actual verses, other days it is about being obedient and also taking time out of life to spend just on scripture time. In a talk recently someone said that they worried their kids weren't getting enough out of their FHE lessons. Then they realized that their kids were going to remember that they had FHE every Monday night, and that was important. They needed to know that they are a family together and that they would be obedient together and have family night every week.
There's something to be said for consistency. I think we all crave it in some aspects of life.
