Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice on helping my toddler build self-confidence. I’ve heard positive reinforcement can be really effective, but I’m not sure where to start. What are some good techniques that have worked for you? I’m especially interested in simple things I can do day-to-day. Thanks in advance for any tips!
I’m curious about this too! My 5-year-old is just starting to do little tasks around the house. I try to praise her efforts, but sometimes I wonder if I’m doing it right.
One thing that’s worked for us is letting her choose which chore she wants to do. She feels more in control that way. But I’d love to hear what’s worked for others.
Has anyone found a good balance between praise and letting kids feel accomplished on their own? I worry about overdoing it with the positive comments sometimes.
Reading through this, I remember when my kids were toddlers. It’s a great time to start building confidence. One thing that really worked for us was giving them ‘special jobs’ around the house. My youngest loved being the official light switch operator - turning off lights when we left rooms. He felt so important!
We also made a big deal out of everyday wins. Getting dressed by themselves or helping to put away toys were chances to tell them how capable they were. Sometimes I’d take a picture of their accomplishment and show it to grandma or put it on the fridge. They loved that.
Patience was key though. Letting them figure things out on their own, even if it took forever, really paid off. They’d get frustrated sometimes, but working through it built resilience. And seeing their proud faces after they succeeded was totally worth it. 
My kiddo loves our ‘chore jar’ game. We put fun tasks on slips of paper in a jar. Every day, they pick one out. It could be anything from watering plants to matching socks. They get excited about the surprise element.
I noticed my child started feeling more confident about helping around the house. They even started suggesting new chores to add to the jar. It’s been a great way to make everyday tasks feel more like an adventure than a boring chore.
What kinds of games or activities have you tried to make chores more enjoyable for your toddler?
In our household, we’ve found that giving our kids small, achievable tasks really helps build their confidence. For example, our toddler loves helping set the table for dinner. We make it fun by letting him choose which plates to use.
When he finishes, we thank him for his help and point out how nicely he did it. It’s amazing to see how proud he feels. We also let him try things on his own, even if it takes longer. Like putting on his shoes or pouring his own drink.
Sometimes it’s messy, but the look on his face when he succeeds is priceless. It’s all about creating opportunities for them to feel capable and appreciated. These little moments add up over time and help build their self-confidence.
Trying new things with my toddler worked well. We’d pick simple tasks like sorting laundry or watering plants.
I’d explain, then let them try. They’d beam with pride after finishing. Mistakes were okay too - we’d just try again.