ds puts himself down

[longhardlookinthemirror]

He's 4 (nearly 5) and has always been a quiet little boy but really well liked in nursery and now school.
Dh and I are very aware of his reactions to situations and we always try to give plenty of encouragment without being pushy or having any fantastic expectations...we try to be positive. In most situations he will say 'I can't do it' or 'I'm rubbish at that' even if he does well at something he will often say 'but I was lucky that time'. It seems he is so afraid to try anything for fear that he will look silly or he won't succeed.
He is a fabulous little boy and I just wish he would be more positive about himself.
What can I do?

It sounds like you and your DH are very tuned in to him and giving all the encouragement you can....the only things that spring to mind are to give him time; he is still only 4 and that's really just an overgrown toddler IMO. His confidence will come with age, specially with encouraging supportive parents on his side.

The thing I think could possibly also help are you and DH ensuring that you talk about what you do well, what you are good at; sometimes all a child will hear an adult saying is "oh I mustn't eat that I'm so fat" or "no, I can't play on that I'm too old, you go on" or any number of things; we need to set the example of being confident ourselves and saying how good we are at being parents, at doing our jobs, at cooking; whatever it is, he will benefit from hearing how people can be positive about themselves IMO.