My 5 year old daughter has been very good at doing classes on her own since she started preschool at 3 years old.  Today she freaked out at her dance class and her teacher had to bring her out to me.  This is her fifth session of dance class (forth with this dance teacher), so the environment is quite familiar to her already.  This is the first class for the winter session.  She was fine when she went into the class -- smiled & waved enthusiastically.  The thing that was different was that the parents went into the class for 2-3 mins for some intro.  Can this little change to the class make her anxious?

She just started kindergarten and taking the bus a week ago...and she is doing wonderfully (thank goodness).

This freaking out episodes are happening more frequently lately.  For example, we're at a restaurant and I asked if she wants to go to the restroom.  She said no, so I would go by myself.  When I come back she is crying uncontrollably screaming that she had changed her mind.

The outbursts are so uncontrollable -- screams & cries without listening to any reasons.  It makes me wonder if the outbursts are manipulative...just screams until she gets what she wants.  Or are the anxieties real, and I should react more sensitively to her outbursts?

Can you also recommend some books that are good for better understanding the behavior of 5 year old children (and up)?

Thank you.