6 year old negative self talk

[littleloopylou]

My 6 year old daughter has begun saying terrible things about herself: I'm horrible. I'm stupid. None of my ideas are good. Etc.

I have never, ever, ever said anything like this to her.

I don't know what is causing it.
She sees her father EOW and I know that he has a girlfriend who has said some negative things to my daughter in the past (calling her a crybaby). But I don't think that either of them would say anything so overtly bad as what she is saying.

Does anyone have advice on how to help her be more compassionate towards herself? It's very distressing.

Maybe she's 'experimenting' as her boundaries change and she grows in to a new stage?
Is school OK? Talk to her teacher?
Could you point out to her when you're having fun that she had a great idea when she did xyz, she did that other thing really well etc.
Plus general fun times like a day out, friend to play etc.
It's just a stage hopefully.

My dd went through the self doubt phase, saying “I can’t draw” and “I’m rubbish at games” . I just kept repeating the fact she is very good at lots of things, and named a few, every time the same response. I did tell her that no one is good at everything but it’s important to try hard. She is through this now and we haven’t had negatives for a while.

My 7 year old daughter was similar and I bought her the big life journal which we do together weekly. It has 10 chapters. Each one on a different topic eg perseverance, my super powers, kindness. I think it’s really
improved her self confidence and self esteem.

Whatever is causing this, I think you should talk to your XH about his girlfriend's language towards your (his) DD. I would be livid if this was my child.

I would just quietly rephrase every time e.g. "I can't do this" to "you can't do this yet".

There is a child in my five-year-old’s class who tells the others things like this and some have repeated it about themselves at home, so that might be worth asking about indirectly.

I don't think this is hugely unusual as my DS can say similar, but I understand your concern as your DD is sometimes at a co-parents.