My 9 year old son waking up and not being able to go back to sleep

[Judith77]

I have an 8 and a 9 year old boy...both are scared to go to bed and sleep in one single bed...with a small light on...The younger one, once he falls asleep is fine and will not wake up till the morning, however the older one struggles to fall asleep and wakes up once or twice a night, calling us to stay with him and takes him an hour to go back to sleep and usually wakes up again in a couple of hours and starts all over again.  This has been happening for about a year on and off, and both me and husband are sleep deprived and can barely stay away as we struggle to sleep back after hanging around my son for 45 min to an hour at a time.
His teacher also started to notice that he is tired.
We have tried ensuring him, leaving lights on, telling him we are 3 steps away in the next room, from getting upset with him, not allowing him to play video games (thinking that is why he wakes us)...and he still keeps getting up...
Do you have any recommendations...our family doctor said it will pass and says we should do nothing medical...

Help!!!

[AnnieBrooke]

Get him going on a really active exercise program every day.  It will tire him so he sleeps better, and get the endorphin flow going so he is less anxious.

[margypops]

I think he should have his own bed, I think you say he shares a bed with his brother, and perhaps you will have to start to ignore his cries when he wakes up, he knows you will go to him is the problem .,don't hang around him, it isnt good for him he will be tired it will affect his daytime performance. So let him have his own bed,make no issue out of it when he starts calling tell him once 'go back to sleep' then say no more, if he comes out send him back. be consistant, you havent been and he will continue till you are ., it will only take a few nights . good luck