[dnel]

My mother often talked about children she'd witnessed talking about their past lives. She believed it but I'm sceptical. Then my son started saying things like "when I was a girl" which seemed to confirm it and my mother thought so until I told her he also talked about "when I was James the red Engine" and it became clear this was him recounting stories from books but in the first person.

He quickly grew out of it as his language developed further and I believe similar cases are just young kids being unable to express their ideas accurately.

[tommiegannert]

I just had this talk with someone else's mother, and didn't know how to carry the conversation. Going along with what-if was my best option.

However, your hypothesis is very compelling.

Context about developing self-awareness (from some random site): https://www.fatherly.com/health/children-five-stages-self-aw...