My dh let my 4 year old watch bits of An Antz Story and Dr Who and she now won't go to sleep in her own room - well for the past 4 nights, but I've tried all I can think of and it's not working. When we say goodnight and turn off the light she just starts crying. This is the girl who cried at Sleeping Beauty because Maleficent was so terrifying. I have talked her through it, but she just cries. Bribery isn't working, as she says, I would love the 'chocolate reindeer but it's not going to stop the bad dreams'. She doesn't really mean dreams, as she doesn't get to sleep - but actually horrible thoughts. I say to think happy thoughts and think of the lovely fairies in Pixie Hollow, but she says for every happy 'dream' she has ten bad ones.
Last night she said nasty people are so horrible to good people, so I tried to explain that good people tend to be happy and find happiness, and nasty people are usually sad, miserable and lonely, but my philosophical argument might have been a bit too far flung for a 4 year old.
I tried to wear her out yesterday. She ran around all morning, had her best friend over to play - but it made no difference.
Anyone been through this and can give me some ideas as to how to get our 4 year old going back to sleep?