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.We are going to x and I need you to be on your best behaviour you can run round like loons when we get home' plus a bribe( with the addition that if one is a pain and the other isn't the well behaved one will get both treats. ) worked every time.

DD 3 can be beautifully behaved, took her to a play and she was great, have taken her out for lunch/dinner loads of times, sat and ate and talked to us. But ten minutes later she can be rolling around on the floor like she’s possessed.

I also have a theory about this, I live in a country where having a nanny is the norm and kids seem to misbehave with their nannies and behave better with their parents from what I can see. I think primary carers get the worst behaviour. I’m not saying they are not hands on parents, I’m sure they are but with the kind of work they do they probably do have to lean quite a bit on a nanny.

Nothing naive.
My DCs are at the same school George and Charlotte used to go to, so I’m fully aware of the expectations of all children at that school to be able to sit still during assemblies and services.

Obviously exceptions are made for the SEN kids there, but the vast majority are perfectly used to sitting still, nanny or no nanny so it’s pretty ridiculous to suggest they’ve undergone some sort of Norland boot camp

Poor George always looks so nervous. Charlotte looked unhappy too and she's normally more confident. Louis is just Louis too young to probably understand what's going on. But it's very uncomfortable to watch them have to meet and shake hands with the peasants. All the oohing and aahing over them is ridiculous.

Oh dear. Nasty.

Okay…. You know you’re probably the only one here referring to anybody as ‘peasants’?

It doesn't take much grey matter to fathom that out. Hired help darling!

"They are clearly both naturals with children, because there is no way my unruly brood would be that well behaved"

So you're saying you're NOT natural with children? Weird that you would criticise your own parenting to big up people you've never met and who don't care about you.

Amazing how well kids can behave under the wing of an army of the world's best nannies.

He's always looked miffed. Maybe they should show him how some of the people in this country scrape by and he could try and be a little more grateful for his situation.

Trained from an early age about how to behave in certain situations. The average child has less urgent need of this. Also some children are naturally more biddable. I was. I don't think it tells you much about their skills as parents.

Again, totally normal for all prep school kids to greet with a hand shake

Every single morning, the children will greet their class teacher (and usually also the head/deputy head/head of year) by shaking their hand, making eye contact and saying good morning.

At the end of the school day, they shake hands and say goodbye before they leave

Normal behaviour from 4 years old, they won’t find this weird or uncomfortable

At 9 and 7 I would have taken mine to full length shows at the theatre and cinema. I would expect kids of that age to be able to behave. Mine had to attend proper Carol concerts with their school from age 4 at which they weren't allowed sweets or distractions. DS2 has autism and ADHD also. It is also something the Royal children are used to doing, if you bring your DCs up doing something from very young (eg going out to eat in a restaurant) then they behave properly when out, suddenly do it for the first time at age 4 or 5 and they possibly won't.

I don't think it's above expected behaviour for that age but I think many people these days have very low expectations of theirs kids, you've only got to read some of the many threads about teenagers on here to know that. Many couldn't even been left at home for a few hours alone.

I thought this was about children from Cambridge and wondered how on earth a whole city's children were well behaved😅

I'll get back to my knitting ...

Mine had no issues with plays, concerts,church etc at this age- in my experience most kids are capable of noticing the expectations and following them. No shade on those who can't but sometimes parents seem to expect too little or worry too much.

George and Charlotte are old enough to be able to sit perfectly still though a church service. I did at that age and so did my own DC. I think Louis is in Reception, and it's not too much to expect of a lot, if not all , reception children. If you show children the expectation, and have them regularly practice something it becomes normal behaviour. I won't pretend my DSs didn't start play fighting once we'd crossed over the road after mass, and then ran around yelling with huge sticks in their hands, but they were perfectly able to sit through a concert or church service with impeccable behaviour, and politely greet people they met afterwards. I think many parents don't expect this of their DC, and so they are allowed to wriggle around and chat when they're slightly bored, without gentle reminders from their parents.

So I think the Royal children behave so well because they have parents, nannies and schools that are all showing them the way to behave, not that they're special, magical children.

@edwinbear
My dd attended state school and changed to private in year 9. She, from her accounts, is one of the better behaved there. She always sat behaving herself in assembly as did most of her peers. Private school children are far less likely to have SEN so there cannot be a direct comparison as some state school children will literally be unable to sit in the required spot for the mandated amount of time.

Dd showed me her friend’s planner, for example, and it was awash with teacher comments on poor behaviour. The girl has only ever attended private school. Her father was the same apparently. Of course not all of the student there are like this but there have been a couple of expulsions for quite serious incidents as the school can pick and choose who to keep and who to expel. So I don’t think private school attendance guarantees long term good behaviour.

Dd is not particularly bookish btw, is very sporty with boundless energy. Personality and parental expectations help to a point.

But it's very uncomfortable to watch them have to meet and shake hands with the peasants

You need to do something about your low self-esteem if you think you're a peasant; or that other people look at you and think that.

Not read the whole thread but OP come on! those three children have had literally the very best childcare and education (so far) that money can buy, together with more one to one attention than most children see in their lifetime.
They have been trained for public engagements.

@Mummyoflittledragon why did you look at another child’s planner and why did your daughter show it to you? Wouldn’t call that good behaviour

I would expect most children their age to be able to behave nicely. I don’t think they are exceptional or unusual.

Strange thread. There are lots of well behaved children, who are able to sit through a concert. Why all the fawning over the cambridge children. They are being trained consistently on how to behave. This is reinforced by the tutors, nannies they have had, and the prestigious schools that they attend. They really should not be compared to other children.

I take a class of 28 to church several times a year, including lessons and carols just before Christmas. Most of them can sit through it perfectly well. Those who would struggle sit near an adult who can intervene as needed (as a parent would).
Normal KS2 children in a normal state school, including my children with SEND because they are part of everything we do. We start the process in EYFS with assemblies and go from there.

What's with all this "private school kids can do this" nonsense?
I've been a primary state school teacher for 35 years and the vast majority of our children are perfectly capable of doing the same. Even children in Nursery/reception sit beautifully in assembly and tiptoe in and out quietly in a line. Call it "training" if you like but they copy their peers and follow the expectations from their teachers. Obviously those with additional needs might require a bit more support but most cope.

My kids always sat through things like a carol service. I've got 4 and we always went to church every Sunday and expected good behaviour. It's just simple training.