If you keep up the ignoring him when he whines, he should get the idea. I know it can be difficult, especially when the kids want to go and fuss them etc.

I can understand why he is whining to come out though. If he is in his crate from 9pm at night til gone 6am in the morning, that's a long while. He must be in his crate for 9 hours till he wakes up then a little longer till you're ready to let him out, so 9+ hours in a crate (if I have read what you said right! sorry if I haven't)... that could be why he is whining... quite a long time to be shut in a crate imo.

It might be worth investing in a pen for the living room.