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Fears about making the grade or being accepted by peers can make back-to-school a stressful time. But experts say lack of sleep at the start of the school year can make the transition even harder for kids to handle.

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University of Florida pediatricians say because many children's sleep patterns shift during summer vacation, now is the time to get kids back into their school-year bedtime routine. Youngsters generally need at least nine hours of sleep a night for optimal learning. Experts say lack of sleep can lead to inattentiveness in school and affect concentration and comprehension. Sleep deprivation can also cause excessive irritability in some kids, making it harder for them to adapt to new situations. Doctors say it's helpful to establish a nightly schedule. Consistent sleep and wake-up time makes it easier for kids to shake the proverbial snooze-mode and get out of bed in the morning, allowing them time to eat a good breakfast.

Dr. Anne-Marie Slinger / UF Pediatrician:

"Several weeks before the beginning of the school year it's very important to put into place the sleep schedule and sleep routines that you want to be in place when a child returns to school, because it does take some to time to get back on the new schedule."

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Doctors say it's particularly important to help children wind down before bedtime. It's best to wrap up homework about an hour beforehand, allowing active minds time to wind down for sleep mode. And when it comes to after-school activities, there's one that's especially adored by many children, but abhorred by pediatricians…at least close to bedtime.

Dr. Anne-Marie Slinger / UF Pediatrician :

"What's important is that activities such as playing video games or watching television are really confined to earlier periods in the day. That can be quite arousing and for some children, being able to disengage and settle down to bed can be quite difficult."

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From the University of Florida Health Science Center, I'm Eva Egensteiner.