Lucil Kam knows that morning routines in her 'Ewa Beach household will get a little chaotic starting next month, when her 11- and 9-year-old children return to school.

That's when the Kams will be waking up earlier, rushing to get ready and dashing out the door to beat the traffic into town.

"The first couple weeks is always a madhouse in the morning," said Kam, 48.

For many Island families like the Kams, going back to school also means going back to an often hectic daily routine.

Planning ahead can help families adjust to the new busy schedule. A big time-saver for Kam and her children is getting things like clothes, supplies and snacks ready ahead of time.

"I have them prepare everything they need for the next day the night before because we don't have time to be running around in the morning," Kam said.

Kam also has delegated morning tasks to her growing children, like taking care of their own water jugs and feeding the cat.

"That's really important because at one time I tried to do everything, but they're old enough now to take on these responsibilities," Kam said.

Creators of The Family Planner, a daily organizational planner, offer more tips to help families adjust to the coming school year and make for a smooth transition: