I've always wanted my kids to be self-assured and confident in their own skin. Sometimes it's hard, as a very Type-A person, to let my children express themselves. I've really been trying to open up lately and let them show me what makes them feel confident. My daughter loves to play princess dress up and this has helped her open up in so many ways! I wanted to share why I'm letting her make more decisions and give you a look at (and a chance to win!) the new Step2 Pretty and Posh Vanity.
Thanks to Step2 for sending us the Pretty and Posh Vanity!
A few months ago I found my daughter with my eye shadow palette, and she had make-up EVERYWHERE. My first instinct was to freak out, because it wasn't a cheap palette! But when she looked at me with her bright, eye shadow covered face and puffy princess dress and said "Look mom, I did my make-up like you!" I realized she wasn't trying to make a mess. She wasn't trying to ruin my favorite make-up or her play dress, she was just trying to express herself with make-up and clothes in the same way I do. It's funny when your kids teach you lessons like that without even trying. I decided it was time to let her start expressing herself more, especially when we're at home. Step2 graciously sent us their Pretty and Posh Vanity and she is so excited to have her own space to do her 'beauty routine'!
Step2 Pretty and Posh Vanity
The Pretty and Posh Vanity is the perfect set up for my daughter. She's four and the stool is just the right height for her to see herself in the morning. On days that we stay home, she gets to pick her clothes now (I was a bit of a control freak about that in the past) and more often than not she chooses a princess dress.
When I ask her why she likes to wear princess dresses, she tells me that they're beautiful. It's obvious that she feels confident in them as she twirls around our house and makes up stories about the adventures she's on. I feel like there used to be a stigma about princesses being damsels in distress, but that's changed so much with fearless role models like Merida, Rapunzel, and Belle!
While my daugher still likes to use real make-up sometimes, she also likes to pretend with the stickers on the Step2 Pretty and Posh Vanity. She'll rub her finger on the sticker palettes and then rub her eyes like she's applying real eye shadow. There are even sections to hold real make-up, nail polish, and lip gloss on the vanity!
The tools that come with the vanity are adorable and just the right size for little hands. My daughter is much more willing to brush her hair with these tools, also, which is a plus!
Encouraging Our Daughter to Play Princess Dress Up
Since I started encouraging our daughter to play princess dress up, she gets into my make-up and nail polish less. We still have girly days where we do her hair and nails together, but she independently plays with her vanity more often than not. It's got a cute little storage drawer and working light, too!
She also enjoys decorating her body with temporary tattoos, in case you're wondering why she has Simba on her arm 😉 The vanity is a great place for her to sit still to apply those tattoos, which she likes to do daily! She loves having her own little station to get herself ready and this Step2 vanity is the perfect addition to her room.
The Step2 Pretty and Posh Vanity is sold exclusively at Toys 'R' Us! Our friends at Step2 are generously offering our our readers the chance to win a vanity of their own! Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below.
mami2jcn says
I love Step2 products! This would make an awesome Christmas gift for my 2 daughters.
Becky Kinard says
Kids definitely learn by watching everything we do. I love for kids to play dress up because it is great role play and they have so much fun doing it.
Lesley F says
My granddaughter loves to play dress up and would love this
Angela Windham says
My daughter would love this. She loves dressing up in my clothes and having this vanity set would just make her dress up experience even more awesome.
Stephanie M says
This is adorable! Love the accessories like the brush and mirror! Perfect for my little princess 🙂 Plus I love how it's purple and not pink!
Linda Manns Linneman says
This is so cute for our little girls. It makes them feel like mommy and teaches them how to take care of their selves. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Sue E says
I love this toy and have tried to win it a few times now, because I too thank it is important for kids to let their imaginations go wild before they grow up and have to be adults! The princess dress up and the vanity go together. The princess has to look her best before attending the ball ?
Step2 toys are some of the best toys to accomplish this and for years of FUN!
Melissa Storms says
I love the gown and the crown and that is the perfect little vanity for a proper princess.
Dana Murphy says
My daughter loves watching me put on makeup and doing my hair. As for me doing her hair ... not so much, lol. But I do add a few touches of makeup on her face and we love doing nails. I encourage her to play dress up with some of my old stuff and halloween costumes we get at thrift stores.
Deborah D says
I love the little stool and the accessories are cute.
Victoria Scott says
Great way to build confidence and I love the little drawer!
denise low says
I think that it is good for little girls to express themselves. Thank you for the entry.
Rachal Bright says
Such a cutie!
Deborah W. says
There's nothing wrong with making yourself feel good and look better. I love how sturdy this princess set is by Step 2.
Anyelika says
OMG so cutee! I just need one for my little girl!
Dey says
I have my own vanity set up and I can't wait to have one for my daughter. To built her confidence while expressing her self!
Melissa Watson says
My daughter will have the biggest smile, if she saw this in her room:
Ashley Dunn says
Super cute set! My almost 3 year old would be ecstatic to have this. Thanks for the preview into this great Step2 item. It definitely helps me out to see it in more detail!
Tracy says
Awww, this is too cute! Absolutely love the dress to go with this princess type vanity.
Casey Walsh says
My daughter always watches me get ready. She loves to just sit and watch and this is such a great way for her to learn and play without me worrying about touching something that could irritate her.
Tammy Rhodes says
I love watching my girls play dress up! They would love one of these.
Taylor Marshall says
My daughter and I are always playing together in my makeup. This would be perfect for her to have in her own space. We loved doing swatches on our arms and naming off all the colors!
Diana P says
This would be amazing for my little one. Perfect bday gift! This is too cute.
Victoria Divian says
My daughter wants into my makeup so bad. I do give her clean brushes and let her pretend to do my makru0 while we go over the parts of the face, eyes, lips, nose, etc. Such a great bonding and learning opportunity.
TiffanyF says
Such a cute vanity! My little niece, who is 2 1/2 would absolutely love this. I didn't even know Step2 made these. Looks like it would be a great Christmas gift!
April Malone says
I would love to win this for my 3 girls. They all love it when mommy does the nails and sometimes makeup. This would definitely be perfect for them.
Alexa Meris says
Playing “grown up” is a big part of how children learn and it’s really their “work” at these young ages. My daughter sees me cleaning and she starts cleaning; she sees us cooking and setting the table around mealtimes, and she does that in her kitchen. Copying us helps them to identify themselves and understand life! Would love to win this for my little girl. She loves to watch momma get ready for work!
Kristine Richardson says
My 2 year old LOVES everything and anything to do with makeup, or as she calls it "akup", lol. She would absolutely love one of these!
Barbara D'Angelo says
My granddaughter would absolutely love this while playing dress up with her princess gowns!
Jess R says
Love how it leave room for so much imaginative play and open ended play <3 My daughter would love this.
Melinda Toungette says
I know a sweet princess that would love this
Ashley Walline says
I love this hope to win
Jeannie says
I have three lovely nieces when they come to visit they would love playing dress up with this !!
Daisy Navarrete says
My 18 month old daughter is the same way. Whenever I’m doing my makeup, she’s right by my side wanting to do everything I do. She’s gotten into one of my palettes too. Not an expensive one, but still made a very big mess!!
Katie Smith says
This is so cute! Every little girl would love this! So many great things in this vanity!
Diane Richards says
This is perfect for every beautiful little princess.
Andrea hunter says
Love the idea of it all! Super cute! My girls would love this! Perfect for a 2 & 4 year old!
Kimberly Sims says
My daughter recently commented that she wants to be a princess. She's 3 going on 4. This would be perfect for her!
Susan says
Everyone needs the opportunity to explore who they are, or who they might want to be.
Brooke Weaver says
My girls would LOVE this!! Great Christmas gift idea!!
Tyiesha sydnor says
My daughter has two older brothers, everyone told me she would be rough and a tom-boy. While she can hold her own, there is nothing she loves more than to run and okay in skirts and dresses and her okay heels. She loves when we paint nails and the occasional lip gloss i let her put on.. This would be perfect for her.
Thank you,
Tyiesha
Lana Pateski says
My daughters second birthday is in 2 weeks and this vanity would be perfect for her! She loves watching me put my makeup on and I know she would love this!
Shannon L says
This is an adorable set. Great for the imagination. Love your review of it.
Tamber Couch says
I don't hardly wear make up being a full time mom I just don't have time. My 3 year old daughter Rainee would love this she has a great imagination and plays dress up, with whatever we have currently it's a spiderman mask. This looks like such an awesome product thanks for the chance to win.
Kristina collier says
My little princess is all girl! This is absolutely perfect!
Lauralynn Mangis says
Such a cute little vanity. This is a great post! Thank you!
Joy says
Adorable vanity! Love how they can use the brush and mirror to practice doing their own hair!
Kathy Pease says
My granddaughter loves to play dress up..I am always looking for little outfits for her at thrift stores 🙂
suzanne bertrand says
Fingers crossed!! Would love to win for my grandchild
Christie Land says
Step 2 toys are amazing. My Little princess loves her slide and kitchen!
Heather Olson says
My 3 1/2 year old loves dressing up as a princess, always has to have her nails painted, enjoys watching me put on makeup, and asks to use my brushes as if she's putting makeup on as well. This vanity is super cute! With her still learning to use the potty, I think this will be a great incentive to be potty trained!
Hesper Fry says
My daughter really wants this! I showed her a picture on this blog post and she is asking for it for Christmas.
Richard Hicks says
Your daughter looks so cute. Our little girl would die for this vanity.
Erin Miller says
This is such a cute set! My daughter already knows what nail polish is..she sees abo tyke if it an starts asking to paint her toes! I actually use my make-up compact in my purse as a distraction when needed. She loves 'applying' her make-up too!
Jennifer P. says
I would love for my daughter to play at this vanity while I am fixing her hair every morning. It would make fixing her hair a breeze.
Patty wright says
My grandaughter just turned three and she loves pretending. She loves singing. She is a real girly girl and would love this.
Jan Lee says
I like when you said, .... she gets into my makeup less.... I remember my niece just barely over 2 years old, standing on the toilet to get to her own mom's makeup on the vanity. Alhtough it was cute at the time, it was not safe for her to do that. Plus adult makeup is not alwys safe for kid's skin. This set is nice so that they can have their own area to ' dress up' and have their own makeup center 🙂
Karen S says
Thank you for the great review. After reading everything I would love for my granddaughter to have one she is so into this kinda thing and then she can have her own
Maria R says
i love all of step 2 products they have for every age so easy to put together just love everything about them
Sunny C says
I have loved step 2 products since my brother gifted my daughter a climber slide. I have been watching the pretty and polish vanity for a while now. My daughter has been sneaking my make up, to play with it, while she watches me put it on. She too loves fairy skirts and dresses and even dressing up as a knight with daddy, because daddy doesn't do dresses. I think this would make a great gift for her.