To wonder how the Cambridge children are so beautifully behaved?

[surreysarah]

They sat through the Christmas carol concert so perfectly, and are just so incredibly well behaved when on public outings. They seem delightful and are always so well turned out. As a mum myself, I can’t help wondering - what is Kate and William’s secret? Kudos to the both of them, because they always seem to keep the children in check, but they do it in such a lovely and understated way. They are clearly both naturals with children, because there is no way my unruly brood would be that well behaved at a carol concert. Parenting goals and then some!

This is crazy. Dc that age can sit through something like that

People are a bit misty eyed when it comes to the royal lot

🤢🤢

and are always so well turned out

Why wouldn't they be? Such a strange thing to say!

I think at the age of Charlotte and George you'd likely not move a muscle knowing the eyes of the world were on you. It must be quite daunting and they often look a bit shell shocked in public roles. Louis doesn't always sit but I expect he'd been well bribed after the jubilee antics

This.

Never had a behaviour when out problem. Although mine do comment on/complain about other children with bad behaviour!
Sadly you often see children out in public with parent's eyes glued to their phone, zero interaction with child.

To get young children to sit still isn't mysterious, it's simply practice. Mine always have and I'm no saintly mother!

You start young - high chair at the table all eating together from 6 months, you go to age appropriate events where they need to sit still from around a year (we did kids classical concerts aimed at 1-5's) kids shows/pantomimes etc building up and mine went to church a few times a year sitting with me.

Took dd1 to the ballet at 4, but first big thing we went to was les miserables when they were 4&6, and went to the opera annually after that, no issues with them talking, fidgeting etc. it's simply practice and conditioning. They are grown now but as I said it all starts with sitting still at the table as a family night after night

The kids are only wheeled out for show the rest of the time the nanny does all the work. They have been trained in how to behave since birth.

I would love to know how you can be so certain of this!
My friend's two children. aged 7 and 9, have been to three family funerals in the past year, and they behaved perfectly, both at the funerals and afterwards. The younger one is generally all go, and they fight like cat and dog, but they know how to behave when they need to. Not a nanny in sight.

Aren’t all kids ‘trained how to behave from birth’?

that is literally what parenting is - showing them what is expected of them in life?

Makes me sad the way they are trotted out for the world like trained poodles at a dog show. It's sad William didn't learn anything from his own sad childhood.

@tenbob very different when your child is autistic.

@magicthree I guess your friend is a perfect parent then as so many on here seem to be.

But what does that have to do with your bitchy suggestion that the royals have used Nannies to ‘train their children from birth’?

@tenbob bitchy comment ? Hardly. Are you really that naive to think they are hands on parents who don't employ staff??

Although mine do comment on/complain about other children with bad behaviour!

That's nice, maybe the children they see with bad behaviour are autistic.

OP I said exactly the same thing while watching the carol concert! George and Charlotte always look and behave impeccably, they must have to sit through so many of those long events!! William and Kate must have drilled it into them, and also they’re surrounded by adults therefore the act of sitting quietly is constantly modelled to them.

I don't think it's a great mystery, the children behave well and I'd expect most children that age to do the same.

Mine will sit through an hour plus church service without any bad behaviour. If it's late in the evening I might have to take the youngest who is just 6 onto my lap as they'd be tired but there wouldn't be any nonsense from them. I confidently take them to church, concerts, charity events etc.

If an event has an unexpected element I'd warn them in advance 'mummy has to talk to X, I need you to stand next to me quietly etc' and I would reward when we got home

The royal children will have been taught from a young age but I their behaviour to me is normal 'in public' behaviour that I'd expect of most children I know.

I'm sure they have their moments.mike tindall revealed there were some sweeties at the jubilee. Both George and Charlotte are old enough to understand and behave well.all dc understand assembly at school and so on anyway.

I agree - there's absolutely no need for them to make such appearances.

George looks like he's not enjoying any of it; Charlotte seems to take it in her stride; and Louis seems to find it restricting and acts like most kids his age when they're bored. I feel sorry for George.

Routine from birth. Teach table manners as soon as they are capable of feeding themselves, lots of praise for nice manners. Weekly church, take books at first, encourage them to be quiet, then as they get older, how to join in with the service, again, lots of praise for behaving well. Read them bedtime stories from very young. All of these activities involve teaching them to sit still and to pay attention to the behaviour expected, which in turn can lead to taking them out to eat without being worried about how they’ll behave in public Etc. Also, all adults around them expecting their behaviour to be good and setting a good example.
If you’re not a church-goer, there are other activities such as having regular visits to a Public Library, that encourage good habits in a quiet environment, too.

Yes, it’s perfectly normal parenting to teach your dc social expectations.

describing teaching as ‘training’ is a very manipulative way of setting a bias.

All the royals know how to behave at public events though. They're trained from an early age and they see everybody around them putting that "mask" in place so they follow suit. That's all it is, training and modelling. It doesn't mean they're perfectly behaved all the time. They're probably running around yelling like any other kid once the cameras are off.

Exactly. My dd was the same when little. The first autumn term at school was difficult for her being one of the youngest. She was beautifully behaved at school and several times disintegrated into a mess as soon as we left the school gates. I learned quickly to bring an after school snack to help counter this as she was clearly tired, overwhelmed and hungry.

The Cambridge children have treehouses, huge gardens, holidays in the wild. Their parents - and other adults in their midst - are cultured and confident. Sounds very much like my own childhood...

...Just wait till they are teenagers!

This. DC have been sitting through assemblies, recitals, plays etc with clear behavioural expectations from reception through school. My jaw literally dropped when we attended the first school recital and I saw the entire reception class sit at the front with immaculate behaviour the entire time.

Add the experienced nannies, behavioural experts etc and all the other things they have access to and I’m not the slightest bit surprised they are able to behave this way

Yep. It’s starting to make me feel really uncomfortable.

That Sandringham walkabout business with all the (presumably armed) bodyguards/protection officers and the overnight-camping stans was completely unnecessary.