Make sure there's a World Book Encyclopedia in the house. Any year is okay. Buy it used. When they get home, give them the time and space to look at walls. If you treat kids like animals, they act like animals.
Kids are kids.
Don't forget it. You were a kid once too. Don't romanticize your past too much, kids resent it and it probably wasn't as good as you think it was. Be happy whenever you can manage it. It's your life.