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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.