Is this tiredness or a Monster!

[sparklingchampagne]

I have posted a few times about DD not wanting to go to bed, refusing to lie down etc.She's never a problem during the day, it's just bedtimes. . until today.

I picked her up as usual, she's had a good day (although a big week with Sports Day etc)
And she's been awful - shouting and screaming at me, refusing to do what she's asked, she even smacked my arm - and this is totally out of character for her.

Is this tiredness from her lack of sleep - or has she turned into (gulp) a monster?!!
Help!

Tiredness IMO and IME.

How old is she and what time do you put her to bed?

Sorry, should have said
She is 5 (just)
She did have a bedtime of 6.45, but was up until gone 9pm, so (on advice from lots of MNs) I moved her bedtime to 7.30 - she's a bit more settled (doen't come out of her room quite as much) but it's still 9pm before she drops off - and she is knackered in the morning - I am having to drag her out of bed!

I would suggest ensuring that she has enough winding down time. This is really important. No lively games or TV etc in the hour before bed. Yes - 9 pm way too late - 7 pm much more appropriate for a 5 year old.

Turn off the TV, try quiet music, story tapes etc - always worked very well for mine at this age.

She sounds terribly overtired because she is not able to drop off to sleep easily - this is usually due to over stimulation in the hour before bed. IME

Honestly - she really isn't overstimulated at all! At 6pm it's bathtime, followed by quiet time while I do her hair, put baby lotion on etc. Then she reads to me, and then we have cuddles and talk about the day etc, then it's supper time with warm milk and a biscuit, then story time, and then bed.
It's a whole hour of wind down time - if I do any more winding down it'll be the afternoon!

Well - you did say she had had a big week with sports day etc - maybe that is why she has been awful today? It just seems to be the most likely explanation to me - but of course I could be completely wrong.

Thanks 3littlefrogs I'm sure you're right about the overtiredness!
Just wish I could get her to lie down when she's in bed, I'm certain if she lay down for 10 mins she'd drop off straightaway.

When dd was little I used to give her a massage using coconut oil and a drop of lavender oil (literally one drop - essential oils are very potent). She would be out for the count in 5 minutes.