7yo dd doesn't think she's beautiful

[Runawaytrain]

tonight dd and I were having a chat and I said something about her being cute. She responded by saying 'do you think I'm cute mum because I don't think I'm very pretty' I asked her why and she said she just doesn't like her face.
She is beautiful for a start, massive big Blue eyes and gorgeous hair but that's not the point. I've always tried to build her self esteem and see that she's more than just a pretty face and I'm a bit saddened that she doesn't think she's beautiful.
Anyone been through anything similar or can offer any advice?

[user1476140278]

I'd be more concerned about WHY she's concerned with being beautiful at her age.

At 7, a child should not even think about this. What's she watching on TV? Is it girls at school?

[Runawaytrain]

I don't know why she's concerned with it. I did ask if anyone had said anything at school and she said they hadn't.
I don't think it's anything from the TV she's still into little kids tv stuff and has no older siblings.
This is why I was so shocked when she said it I think, I didn't think being beautiful would be a concern at her age.

[Fairybells]

Has she heard anyone else criticising their own looks? Any cousins, aunts etc? Sometimes children can pick up on the slightest things, it might be enough if she's heard someone saying something along the lines "wish I was prettier" or "I need to lose weight" it could be anything like that. It could have been another girl in her school, not necessarily saying anything about your DD's looks but her own which could have caused your girl to start thinking about this stuff.
Try get her mind of it, maybe a new activity or hobby, something she might be good at? It could boost her self esteem and it'd be good for her if it made her realise that looks really aren't everything. Or how about a mother-daughter pamper day? Have her hair done, some new clothes etc.

[Runawaytrain]

We have a lot of young women in our family. Aunts, cousins, nieces.. all of them are teen or pre teen so that could be having an influence on her. They are all experimenting with makeup and hair so maybe dd is feeling a bit left out of all of that?

[Fairybells]

It could be, she may have overheard something and then watching the older girls doing their make up etc might make her feel a bit low about herself. Not saying to let her start using make up but maybe there's something else that would make her feel pretty? New hairstyle or a new dress?

[Runawaytrain]

She has loads of hobbies, dances, goes to after school clubs etc so I don't think it's lack of other things to concentrate on that's the issue, definitely could be something she has over hear though so wil have to keep an eye on that. Yeah I think a nice day for just the two of us might help. Ds is 3 and probably hogs quite a bit of my attention.