Families in Katy will be getting back into the school routine. Getting back onto a schedule can be difficult for everyone. Going to bed earlier and getting up earlier is just one of the changes that back to school brings.

Here are some helpful tips from Katy Moms (maybe something here will help your Katy family survive the transition):

• I teach my children to pack their own lunches the night before. Each child has a tub with his/her name on it in the frig for the cold items and all nonperishables go in the lunchbox.
• I have my daughter lay out her clothes, shoes, and socks the night before school. It saves the drama of having her change her mind in the mornings.
• My kids love cereal for breakfast so I have them set out their bowls, spoons, and cereal boxes on the breakfast table the night before. In the morning all they need to do is get the milk out.
• We have a big family and the paperwork can be overwhelming. As soon as each child comes home they put their folder in a tray and then get a snack from the "snack tray" (healthy snacks on the bottom shelf). While they are eating I go through and read or sign the papers for the next day. If it's a date I need to remember I put it on my computer calendar then and then throw all the papers away.
• I installed hooks for each of my children's backpacks. It keeps them from putting them all over the house and potentially losing something important.
• We have a write-on/wipe-off calendar on our refrigerator. All important family events are posted so that everyone knows what is going on for the week/month.
• I used chalkboard paint to paint a kitchen cabinet. I write reminders, dates, or my grocery list on it.
• Our children can only participate in one extra-curricular activity per season. This keeps our schedule from getting too full and allows us to have family time.
• Last year we started using an alarm clock in our kids' room. It has been helpful in teaching them time management.

Have a helpful tip from your family? Comment and let The Town know!

New traffic laws will be take effect September 1st in Texas. We have highlighted a few we feel you should be aware of but please see the Texas Department of Public Safety for more details.

1. Teen Drivers: Effective September 1, 2009, the laws for teenage drivers are getting tougher. Drivers younger than 18 are banned from using cell phones while driving (dialing, talking, texting) and total hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction a teen receives is increasing from 14 to 34 before getting a license.

2. Driving in a School Zone: Effective September 1, 2009, the use of a wireless device within a reduced-speed school zone is prohibited . Cellular phones may be used while the vehicle is stopped in a school zone or with a hands-free device. The law also applies to bus drivers. Violators are subject to a fine of up to $200. Note: Cities or counties wanting to enforce this law must post a sign at the beginning of each school zone to inform drivers that using a wireless communications device is prohibited and the operator is subject to a fine. THE SIGNS ARE ALREADY UP IN OUR AREA!

3. Booster seats: The new law requires children under 8-years of age to be in a safety seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

4. Seat Belts: Effective September 1, 2009, all occupants of a vehicle, no matter their age, front and back seat, must wear seatbelts.

-Thanks to Trish, FreckleTown.com member

Back to school is right around the corner and for Katy families it can be an expensive time.

With new backpacks, school supplies, shoes, clothes, and school lunch items it can be a bit overwhelming.

To help your Katy family here are a few money saving tips:

• Shop during the Sales Tax Holiday
• Print grocery coupons and then go to Kroger's MegaSale Event for kid-friendly school lunch items
• Visit resale shops like The Children's Carousel in Katy and take your coupon or Katy Christian Ministries' new Super Store
• Use freecycle.com to find items needed or to trade
• Exchange clothes and shoes with friends
• Check out the free or nearly-free items at Target this week (apples, bananas, poptarts, cereal, small loaves of bread, Hefty One Zip bags, etc.)