Mornings won’t be such a minefield when you apply these three parenting C’s:

Cohesion. Can’t get your kid to finish her French toast in time for the bus? Sit down to eat together. She’ll be inclined to mirror your quicker pace, and you’ll score a few minutes of family meal time.

Consistency. If you’re a stickler for spic-and-span pearly whites, add teethbrushing to a morning chart. You’ll show the kids what you expect so there’s no confusion on their part—and no caving on yours.

Cooperation. Kids operate best when their opinions matter. So assign tasks based on what they like and can do—like making the bed or walking the pooch—and praise them for a job well done.

Source: Aviva Weiss, a pediatric therapist in Merion Station, PA