Advice? 4.5 year old suddenly become anxious about separation / nursery

[JoeMMo]

Hello
I'm fairly sure this is not particularly out of the ordinary but our 4 year old daughter has quite suddenly - over the space of a couple of days - become anxious about going to nursery, which she previously loved. She is normally a bright, confident, very talkative & friendly child but has become teary and withdrawn whilst at nursery and worried about going beforehand, saying she doesn't want to go and doesn't want to play with anyone. We went to a friends birthday party on saturday and she refused to take part until right at the end.

Now there's a few things going on in ours and her life that have probably contributed to a general level of stress; we recently told her about the baby we're expecting in Oct, the nursery have been taking the kids into the Reception class, we're going on holiday abroad for the first time with her and to cap it all, I've been poorly for a couple of weeks. None the less, its still quite distressing to see the change in her and we're wondering what we can do to help her get over it. We've talked to her a lot, reassurred and empathised but there's a fine line between being understanding and perhaps re-inforcing her fears by taking something too seriously.. it's a minefield isn't it?

On the bright side, yesterday she was back to her normal self for most of the day but got upset again this morning. She used to pretty much run all the way to nursery, it's really sad to see so any advice, wisdom, strategies or experience would be much appreciated

thanks

Joe

I think that it's simply just an off day, our children get them too, I have a 4.5 yo DS and he's just been sobbing about not wanting to go to pre-school tomorrow and I know it's because DH has just gone away on a work trip to 5 days, we took him to the airport and he loved waving goodbye, but I think it's just caught up with him. Their Uncle, my brother, was also here over the weekend, so lots of fun and late nights too.

My boys (other DS is 9) like familiarity, not routine as I hate that word as it seems strict, but they like to know where everything is at and anything even slightly different can sometimes push them off their usuality, if you see what I mean.

I always say to younger DS that I will always come and get him if he wants so come home, he's asked once or twice but staff have managed to distract with things like 'Oh but we are going to have a story etc' and he's been completely fine.

Don't read too much into it if I were you, just an off time.

Also parties, imagine us going into a new place with some new people and being expected to jump right in and get all woo hoo straight away? They need a little warm up time too, even if it lasts most of the party!

Thanks, I think you're probably right although so far its an off week. I'm just hoping it goes as soon as it came, she's normally so settled but seems really off kilter. The party was with lots of kids she knew and she is normally straight into the fun. At nursery today she has been keeping herself away from the other children. She's been saying tonight that she doesn't want friends any more... I know its just kids talk and bluster but its still quite distressing to hear. I guess I have to remember that they are quite forgiving and forgetting at this age so hopefully there'll be no long term damage to friendships from her moodiness once it passes fingers crossed.