Jealous girls - help

[Bonsoir]

My DD (7) is very upset at the moment as one particular girl in her class is singling her out and being nasty to her.

From everything my DD says, I suspect this other little girl is jealous as she keeps telling my DD all the ways in which she is better than her and that my DD is no good or not as good as she thinks => classic sign of jealousy in little girls.

My DD is oblivious to envy - it's not part of her make-up, and nor is it part of the make-up of her circle of friends. But, if I am brutally honest, I can understand why this other little girl might be envious of my DD.

My DD's self-esteem has rocketed and she feels victimised

I don't want to tell my DD all the ways in which she is (objectively!) a lot better, or better off, than the little girl who is victimising her. How do I explain what jealousy is without belitting the other child?

plummeted, not rocketed!

ooh, it's awful isn't it? I think this is the age where girls start doing this sort of thing. My dd is 8 and in year 3 and for the first time she's had some trouble from one girl in her class and it's stressful for me. My dd came home a few weeks ago in floods of tears and was scared to go to school the next day so I spoke to the teacher about it, and since then one of the mums whose child was involved has been avoiding me!!

Anyway, I would say to her that people who are happy and comfortable with themselves do not feel the need to put other people down and that it's to do with how she feels about herself and nothing to do with your dd. I think that would be ok.

Thanks for your supportive post! Yes, my DD was in floods of tears last night and it was very hard to calm her down. I am loth to speak to the teacher (29 children in the class, bigger problems to sort and I don't want to upset the mother of the other little girl who has a lot on her plate - part of the reason why the other girl is jealous, I suspect). Your suggestion is good and I will try it! Thanks, and hope your DD is OK!

I feel for your DD, one way of boosting her would be to point out her strengths and talents often,you can do this without belittling other child, in turn by doing so you will make your DD almost immune to the snide comments made by other girl.
Point out you family life, verbally tell her that she is very loved and, that she is your pride, you don't have to name the other child nor circumstances, confident and secure children will often go trough such awful periods of early school life virtually untouched.
I suspect that if your DD learns to ignore and just do her own thing, jealousy will subside because it is being ignored.

She has come back this afternoon and is much happier. She told me that although the other little girl called her names and belittled her, she smiled and didn't let her see how much it was hurting her.

My brave DD! I'm quite proud of how grown up she is today.