5 year old good sleeper all a sudden anxious

[Anonymous]

I have 5 year old boy girl twins that share a room. My son used to take a while to fall asleep and had some night waking while my daughter historically went right to sleep and slept well through the night. (Relatively speaking both have been fine sleepers and very good at bedtime their whole lives.) But all a sudden my daughter is having lots of anxiety right around bedtime (tears, needing this and that and to be tucked in over and over, and saying she is afraid she doesn't know what to think about when she can't fall asleep). Last night we talked about it tons, I gave her a worry doll, and she did great at bedtime. BUT she woke at 3am and woke me and I am a shitty sleeper so was then up until my alarm clock went off.

I do think she's tired. I do think she's likely having some low level anxiety about school ending and having new teachers next year. Etc. But we talk about all of that and I'm not sure what else might be going on or what to do. I was an anxious child and my parents had none of it. I don't want to do that to her. BUT, I also don't want to have a bedtime struggle every night (I know this is common for some people but we have other issues, bedtime just hasn't been one of them) and I need some sleep myself! As does she ... she is clearly overtired which is exacerbating her feelings.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if this is helpful but I found it really interesting so thought I’d share in case it is: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/15/711213752/for-kids-with-anxiety-parents-learn-to-let-them-face-their-fears

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. This is reassuring as it's the approach I was leaning towards. Acknowledging her discomfort is real but supporting her in facing it and moving forward.