Momma Told Me: Building Confidence In Toddlers + The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker

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Building Confidence In Toddlers + The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker

***I received the following Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker for the purpose of this feature. All opinions and images below are original and copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2014.
5 Tips To Build Toddler Confidence: Stop comparing your toddler to others, watch the words you use to describe your toddler and others, explain new experiences before they happen, socialize in small groups, and use toys that grow with your toddler such as the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker.
Momma Told Me: Confidence isn't something you're born with, it had to be built.

When I was a little girl Momma would take me to this magical place of Little Tikes playhouses, seesaws, and little red cards with black spinning wheels. This place, my Aunt's backyard, was something I'd get to visit only once every so many months; and I loved it so very much because my adorable cousins were spoiled rotten with all the things I'd never have. It may sound bad but I was a very jealous little girl, my younger cousin, Chelsea was 4 years younger than me, and had a backyard that rivaled my favorite playground. However, for a very long time, she was much too young to truly enjoy it. In fact, she was also significantly less dominant than I was and suffered from confidence issues. It was a battle for our mothers but I eventually learned to love being a role model to my younger cousin much more than the girl who came over and simply played with all her toys. And it started with that little red car...
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Building confidence in your child is one of the most important traits you can provide as a parent, and it begins as a toddler. Many times, as adult role models, we forget that little eyes are constantly watching, and tiny ears pick up on more than we think. Even if your toddler is still developing communication and verbal skills you can still build confidence simply by paying attention to the tone of your voice or explaining actions prior to doing.

One of the most important things to remember when working on building confidence is to stop comparing. As parents, we tend to do this without even realizing. While the intent may not be negative, try not to focus on the strengths of other children, but work on reaffirming the positive traits that make your own child unique. Every child is different, and those differences should be celebrated for what they are, not contrasted to those of another child.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Explaining before you do something new is also key to instilling confidence in your toddler. First, go over an event or task in your head, as though you were taking to your tot. This will help you become more comfortable with the new experience, as you may also be anxious for your toddler to experience it. Next, sit down and explain the new task, event, or experience in a positive tone with equally positive words. Even explaining a trip to the doctor ahead of time can make the trip less stressful for you both by mentally preparing for things. Use comforting phrases that show you will be there experiencing this with your toddler, such as "We are going to ____ together" and "We are going to try ___." Even thought your toddler might still be too young to comprehend the words for their direct meaning, they will be able to understand your enthusiasm for the event and better prepare for the experience.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Additionally, no matter how social your toddler may seem, socializing in smaller play groups will foster more meaningful friendships and connections that can help a toddler feel more confident overall. Try to avoid crowded play areas where there may be upset children nearby- your toddler will pick up on these cues and quickly begin to mistrust their environment. Even better, try to provide your toddler a play room or collection of toys that are designed to grow with them and their friends. Little Tikes furniture is especially great for children of many stages to interact with at once.

Lastly, choosing toys that help engage your child through several stages can instill a sense of accomplishment and growth within even the youngest toddlers. While multi-stage toys, such as the adorable Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker featured in this post may be a larger investment up front, they are sure to last years through your child's development from sitting bouncer to full on mobile walker.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker at Toys R' Us and online now.
Toddler Jake interacted with baby Maddie throughout a recent family gathering, learning to communicate and share. While Jake preferred to have the removable, washable, seat cushion out so he could walk in or push the Cozy Coupe around, Maddie liked to sit and bounce while it was in stationery mode. Having the option to easily convert the walker from locked and stable to rolling and mobile meant the two kids could interact with the same toy while building confidence of their own. While Jake was transfixed with the turning ignition and musical effects as he pretended to drive (well, who really knows where?) Maddie enjoyed pulling herself up to stand alongside and play with the mirror and activity center.

When it comes to building confidence there are many positive things we can do as role models for our toddlers- few are as adorable as that Cozy Coupe walker though! You'll find the new Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Activity Walker online and at Toys R' Us locations nationally. Stay up to date with the latest Little Tikes innovations for imagination and growth through their Facebook page.

What Daughter Says: While some have more confidence than others, there are several things we can do to help build it at any age.

P.S. Love Little Tikes? Be sure to enter our EasyStore Picnic Table giveaway here!

Chelsea, 2, and I, 6, sharing a cousinly kiss on the Little Tikes seesaw.

29 comments:

  1. I have a bit of Little Tikes habit! I have toys in my attic from 25 years ago. I'm glad to see a name I trust in the baby supply field!

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  2. Helping kids to build confidence is just the greatest thing ever. watching their faces light up with they have mastered something is so trilling. Such a sweet post, and love that last photo. My kids love their Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, but had no idea this even existed. I'll need to get one for my son who will be born in Nov. Adding it to my ever growing list of things to add to my baby registry.

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  3. Those are great tips to help instill confidence. yes, they may not understand all your words as you explain what you are doing with them; but they will pick up on your excitement and confidence and be more willing and excited themselves!

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  4. Great post! We are working on confidence building with our two girls! It's important!

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  5. Great tips on helping little ones build confidence. Definitely trying to help my daughter with this. We love Little Tikes!

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  6. Little Tikes toys are so much fun for the little ones. They last forever and I love how they are so easy to clean! My nieces and nephews always loved playing with these toys.

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  7. we have always loved little tikes. such great quality. and how ADORABLE is that walker?

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  8. That walker is absolutely adorable. I love it! Little Tikes makes the best products.

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  9. Building a child's self confidence is so much harder than it sounds. Although we try our best to be encouraging and uplifting, all it takes is one poorly worded phrase to wreck a child's mojo. Great post.

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  10. I've watched my niece and nephew grow from tiny babies to a young man and a young woman (almost). It was difficult, but I think my sister got it right.

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  11. Great tips. I always felt that my kids did great in a kid environment and it really helped when they saw older kids play. helped my kids want to do more

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  12. Super cute. Little Tykes has been making great quality toys for so long. I bet my kids will get them for their kids as well. Love this walker.

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  13. That would really be a great one to have - and sure looks like a great walking tool

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  14. This is the cutest thing ever! I love the Cozy Coupe, but had never seen this walker! Adorable!

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  15. Little Tikes makes the best toys! This walker is too cute, I have never seen it before! Loving the bright colors.

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  16. This is so adorable! My kids have to Cozy Coupe cars and love them! I like this walk too!

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  17. That is just so adorable! What a great way to encourage growth and learning.

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  18. Super cute & great tips!! It's always good to know the right way to approach something and confidence is key in so many ways!

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  19. Your son is adorable and you can tell he loves his car! My son would love this!

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  20. We've had a number of Little Tikes products and have been very happy. That walker is adorable!

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  21. When you're a child, it's normal to feel jealous when someone else has cool toys. Honestly....adults do it, too. It's really important to help your child verbalize their emotions. Great post --- and fun toys!

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  22. I wish I would've read this when I was 18 and potty training my son! It's a miracle he's not emotionally damaged. I went about it all wrong!

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  23. It is so important to teach confidence in young children. My kids are teens and they are well adjusted and confident because I made sure to teach them when they were growing up. Great post.

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  24. A child's self confidence is so very important. Wonderful post!

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  25. That is the cutest walker! I love how products like this help build confidence in little ones.

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  26. Great tips, it's important to build confidence! That toy is adorable, they have so many cool things now that my kids are older.

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  27. It is really important to build confidence among toddler, as they are able to learn things quickly so we should develop their confidence level for a better start. It helps to improve their thoughts and personality, we should develop our kid's confidence level to improve their career and future. Thanks for such wonderful instructions.

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  28. Perfect for creating custom-designed cafe space walls. Washington

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