Realize that the problem-solving skills of younger kids are less evolved; they often have problems with impulsivity and frustration control. If going to bed is frustrating for them, it's likely that their behavior is going to escalate into an unpleasant situation. So the first rule is, don't make bedtime unpleasant. Make no mistake, I'm not saying make it pleasant by talking sweet or bribing them. I'm saying don't make it unpleasant by looking for an argument. Don't make it into a self-fulfilling prophecy and expect them to fight with you because that's what they've done in the past.

** Have Quiet Time before Bedtime - as the house winds down before bedtime, there should be quiet time.Any TV or DVDs watched by your child should be screened for mellowness and simplicity. No video games or computer a half hour before bedtime. Ideally, bedtime should be a time of quiet in the house-dad shouldn't be building a chair in the garage, mom shouldn't be slamming around in the kitchen, and other siblings should not be screaming and yelling or laughing loudly.

** Have Your Child Set Their Own Alarm Clock  - When kids begin pre-school or kindergarten, they should get an alarm clock. Part of the ritual of getting up is that we set the alarm clock at night when we go to bed. That way, you get your child to take responsibility as soon as they have some place they need to go. This is basic behavioral training, and it's effective in getting kids into the routine of waking up in the morning.   

** Use a Star Chart to Get Kids Focused on Good Nighttime Behavior - Your child has two ways to get rewarded here: if they get a certain percentage of stars each day, they get a reward that night, and if it's weekly, they get it that weekend. The reward on the weekend has to be something special with an adult. Like they go have an ice cream cone with dad, or go to a movie with both parents. The daily reward might be some extra video game time or the ability to stay up half-an-hour later. The reason we do it incrementally is that your child almost always has a chance to succeed and can almost always start over. 

 ** Use Soft Lights 30 Minutes Prior to Bedtime - Leave on a soft light in the room for half-an-hour before lights out. For younger kids under eleven, reading is a good way to fall asleep. It clears their mind and is soothing. It also gives them some power of choice. Now, if you give that as an option to your kids, the good news is if they don't get up on time in the morning, that's the first thing you can take away: It becomes the consequence for not getting up. And not only do they get a dot on their chart, they hear, "You're going to have your lights out with no reading time until you get up on time for two days." Be sure to add, "After two days, we'll try it again."

A word of advice here: always keep a light at the end of the tunnel for kids. If you make them feel powerless, it will encourage them to engage in power struggles with you.