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Toys for Skill Development – Building Confidence

What Kind of Toys Can Help Baby to Build Confidence?

There are many toys around today that can instil huge confidence and pride in baby as they learn to master a task.

However, you are the most important person to baby in building confidence as they learn to operate in the new world. You are their world so any reaction baby gets from you over a task will be important.

Even if baby doesn't master a task for some time you should still encourage him with positive words and lots of encouragement.

Confidence Building Toys

Wooden Ring Counters

A wooden ring counter like one from Mischief can teach baby a lot about numbers, colours and maths. Initially though baby will enjoy taking the rings off the poles and putting them back on again.

The adult child in us wants the right colours to go on the right poles but to a child simply getting the rings onto the poles is a big deal so they should be rewarded for doing it. When baby is in bed you can change them onto the right poles if it means so much.

You have to remember that the more encouragement and positive vibes he gets from you, the more likely he is to try new things.

Lift and Look Alphabet Puzzles

Lift and Look alphabet puzzles can be used by parent and baby initially to practice motor skills but as baby understands the world better the shapes take on new meaning.

DVDs

Babies enjoy watching familiar faces on DVDs as they get to anticipate what will happen next. The Baby Einstein range of DVDs and videos helps baby understand more about the world using everyday objects and beautiful music.

Books

Books too play a major part in building confidence so it's worth checking out the children's books section on Amazon. The range of books from Amazing Baby will intrigue baby as they turn the pages to see baby faces looking back at them.

Many of the Amazing Baby books allow peek-a-boo interaction so baby will anticipate what is going to happen next. You can share their experiences too and really bring the books alive.

Toys for Building

Building towers is a real art to master so sit with baby and work on the tower together. Be prepared to have it knocked over but the challenge of building the tower and having it stand on its own is a real art to master. Lego Quattro bricks are great fun for babies as they can produce their own creations in a safe environment. See LegoBuilding sets available

Role Playing Toys

When toddlers copy every day things that mummy and daddy do, it also builds confidence so role playing with baby toy tea sets or using a play kitchen can be really rewarding. The Early Learning Centre has a huge selection of toys that encourage children to role play.

Outdoor Toys

Outdoor toys that encourage physical activity bring a new kind of confidence into play. The first time baby goes down the slide on his own is a real accomplishment or building a sandcastle in his sand pit. And learning to go forward in a Little Tikes “Police Coup Car” brings great pride.

Other Toys

The VTech “Sort and Soar Rocket” toy is fantastic toy for babies from 9 months to around 2 years.

It has five different coloured shapes that all fit into the rocket – once baby has completed the puzzle, baby is rewarded as the rocket blasts off and all the shapes fall out.

It teaches baby about music, shapes and colours. Baby will initially watch you playing with it but over time he will learn how to fit the pieces into the rocket before it blasts off. The sense of achievement he will get when he solves the rocket puzzle will be great.

Tips for Building Baby's Confidence

Building confidence is a theme that runs throughout baby's life so remember that if you say something that undermines his confidence it will really set his development back.

Don't use phrases like ‘that's wrong' or ‘that's rubbish' or ‘you can do better' or ‘you are so stupid' and the like. Instead think about what baby has accomplished – they have tried something that hasn't quite worked the way we, as adults, think it should - but at least they have tried.

Babies and toddlers do make mistakes so you have to allow them to build their confidence in a safe environment. Fool hardiness and recklessness is not building confidence but allowing your baby a little observed space could result in some amazing moments.

Starting off using the right language and encouragement will give your baby a strong base from which they can explore the world. A child that is confident in their own abilities will turn into an adult with a quiet confidence.

To find out more about what to look out for when choosing and buying nursery toys visit our How to Choose and Buy a Baby Toy for Different Ages section and our How to Choose and Buy a Baby Toy for Helping to Develop Different Skills section.

To find out more about the different types of nursery toy that are available for each age group visit our Types of Nursery Toy section.

To find out more about the different online baby and nursery toy shops and stores then visit our Top Sites section.

To find out more about the top brands baby toys visit our Top Brands section

You can also find out more in our How to Play with Baby section.