How is this "cool"?

[nombrecambio]

How is crouching down to talk to your kids "cool"? Isn't that just what people do (if they are physically able to crouch down)!

I know AIBU to be reading this shit rag but I wanted to see the MM letters.

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Yes, Princess Diana was the first person to ever crouch down to talk to someone.

Even if I could do this (unlikely), i definitely couldn't get up again

Me neither. And my new knee doesn't bend as much as the original. As a friend said, as long as I'm not planning a Damehood or an Investiture it should do for my purposes

For some people this is totally instinctive. For others it is an active choice.

I work with children and professionals in training... it isn't uncommon for me to have to have a "think about your body language/what non verbal techniques can we use to build trust" type session with our new starters. Especially those who haven't had much to do with children before.

All my work shoes have scuffed toes because I kneel on the floor all the time (my balance isn't good enough to bend down, talk and write in the notes!).

Actually I think this is the one case where heels are help rather than a hindrance. I always find it easier to squat down with heels than with flats. If I'm wearing flats then I can't keep my heels on the ground so I have to balance on my toes which is much less stable. (Can't believe I'm commenting on a royal thread.)

Actually I think this is the one case where heels are help rather than a hindrance. I always find it easier to squat down with heels than with flats

This is actually true, most people are not flexible enough to crouch down with flat feet –try it now, your heels will automatically lift off the floor. So heels would give you some extra support/balance there.

NeverTalksToStrangers and ILoveBray it is actually way easier to crouch when wearing heels than flats. Most people crouch down while standing on their toes. Very few adults (esp Western adults) can crouch with flat feet. So crouching wearing heels is easier as you can spread your weight and balance better than just on your toes which you would be doing if you were wearing flats. The heels stop you risking tipping back and landing on your bottom

I fecking knew I was royalty. 👸 I’ve been crouching like that, in order to talk to the dogs, for years! Assume the position, you Mumsnet commoners! 🙇‍♀️

Is that a massive Photoshop fail? The child's leg is totally disembodied...

Kate must have a core of steel to do that.
I bet she could hold a plank for half an hour

I always crouched down to speak to my young children, meeting them eye to eye on their level works every time. It is totally normal up and down the country (not in those heels though!)

It’s not it just looks that way due to the dress and Kate’s arm.

Squatting is also easier in heels.

However, I prefer towering over my child and shouting "You down there!" to get their attention. But she's 15 and probably deserves it.

Princess Diana used to work in a kindergarten, and was also very tall 5’10“ so she probably did it automatically.
She did it as soon as she was engaged.

New technique? 😂

This is hilarious!

It's a very old, basic common sense childcare technique.

You get down on their level, can have proper eye contact and make them feel comfortable.

Surely anyone that's looked after kids does this?

"Crouching is fairly new" it's really not, my grandmothers did it, my parents, I'm 46 and I've been doing it my whole life from childhood dealing with children smaller than me, following my mums example. She's in her 70's, my grans would be late 90's if they were alive, I'm 46 and been doing it over 30 years!

People less experienced in childcare might not do it automatically but its definitely been around for yonks!

I'd struggle to do it physically now though, I'd probably tumble or get stuck!

KickAssAngel my DS is a teenage too and I tell him sit down so that I can tower over him when I'm cross because he's about 4 inches taller than me now.

The Queen always had a wall built for Prince Charles wherever he was standing.

For christs sake, people have been crouching down to talk to kids forever. It's not new or cool, just makes sense.
My oldest is 30 born in the US and we were far from authoritarian I and all my friends would crouch to a childs level to talk to them. They learned it from their own parents.

Even children do it with smaller children and dogs/small animals. There are loads of compilation videos on Facebook of cute kids touching down to chat to their sibling or a pet.

crouching

savoy

Isn’t Anne Hathaway the one who is going teetotal because she is now a mother? That alone confirmed Anne and I could never be friends (sure she is distraught). Friday early evening glass of wine while one of us made beans on toast for numerous kids kept me and my group of lovely mum friends sane through those toddler years.

Didn’t Diana start this

Um, no, it's a really basic and standard technique for communicating with children.

Reading these replies almost looks like some people don't do it. Which is somewhat concerning...

@MsTSwift she must be a reptile or robot... no one with a toddler wants to be teetotal!!