'You made me feel like I'm silly/ can't do it / am no good'

[Asleeponasunbeam]

This is my 5 year old DD's response at the moment, with lots of crying, to any mild reprimand, suggestion or praise aimed at someone else (e.g. commenting to her cousin that she had done well to avoid a tree while cycling!).

I need to reread 'The Highly Sensitive Child' to re-set my empathy gauge as I'm lower on patience than usual I think, but any advice in the meantime? Thanks.

take a quiet moment.

Ask how dd feels when you say something positive to her.
Ask how she thinks her cousin feels when you say something positive to her.

Ask if it is a nice thing to make people feel good/happy/proud?

What would she say to her cousin to make her feel happy/proud of something she has done.

Does saying something to make her cousin happy mean that someone else has done something wrong?

In other words, talk her through what is actually happening, and try and get her to put herself in the other persons shoes.
It may not work, but it may get her to understand.