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!

I wonder how William parents. Why is it always Kate?

And I'd like to see him cool in front of the cameras if he'd had no nanny, his wife away for a week on a work trip and no cook or cleaner, or pre-prepared meals, valet or assistant. And no help from children's grandparents.

He'd still have a better week than most of us because he doesn't have any financial worries to add into the mix - no problem sourcing food for dinner or keeping the house warm, or affording to drive the kids to school.

I absolutely guarantee he'd not be sauntering around in a crease-free suit. 😂

They're 9 and 7. I was perfectly capable of sitting quietly through a church service at that age without threats, bribery or toys. As were most of my school friends. Also sat quietly through full-length theatre performances. I don't find it surprising tbh, they're not tantruming age.

"Parenting goals?" Give over with that silly expression.

Carol concerts aren’t “long and boring”, though. They are perhaps the jolliest and happiest of all church services- lots of singing, which most people like, even children, and a familiar and magical story. Perfect for children.

😂😂😂

It comes from setting clear boundaries and expectations and being consistent from an early age. We have sone it with all our children and people often comment on how well mannered and beautifully behaved they are. They know a higher standard is expected away from home and accept that. We still do get lots of silliness and mucking around at home but can rely on them to sit nicely, have good manners and behave if we take then to mass or out for a meal.
(they can still be little shits at home though🤭)

I wasn’t being nasty. If op is genuinely shocked and amazed that children at age 9 & 7 can sit nicely for a short time and thinks this would be impossible for her ‘unruly brood’ then it isn’t because the Cambridge children are remarkable. It’s because her kids are very badly behaved. It is normal and unremarkable for children in upper primary to be able to sit normally for an hour at a ceremony.

? My kids are fine at church services and have been all their lives. When they were babies/toddlers we would sit them on our knee and show a flap book.

By school age they could sit still in church and behave in a restaurant. It's just down to (a) firm expectations combined with (b) responsive emotional containment and keeping calm.

Calm parents = calm kids.

What if it isn't actually the Cambridge's that raised them but a team of staff?

You can't imagine your kids behaving so well as they haven't had it drilled into them every day since they left the womb. They have been trained their whole lives for this. William and Harry were the same, just like the generation before them.

I don't understand the whole adoration of these people. They aren't saints, they are just human beings like the rest of us, no better. They have a LOT of help to appear that perfect. Surely anyone can see that?

There is no 'army of nannies.' There's one.

Of course they can sit through a carol service nicely, they have no doubt been sitting through assemblies/church services since they were very small where a constant approach to expectations and behaviour has been there.

I hate this notion that nowadays parents feel they must "bribe" their kids with constant snacks/ipads/phones. Kids will misbehave but a consistent approach and consequences will teach them it's not acceptable to play up in certain situations. Giving them snacks to shut them up or an ipad to keep them quiet actually makes your life harder in the long run.

Re nannies and private schools I’ve used a nanny / private school but also no nanny and state school and there’s no difference to my dc behaving at that age.

Having watched school plays etc at both the difference is selecting out behaviour at private but not much more.

This. I’m old but when I was a child most children were impeccably behaved when the occasion required it. I brought my son up the same way.

Wow I feel super proud of my 'beautifully behaved' just turned 4 and 7yos for sitting through my DM's long funeral without a peep. [Claps self on back].

They look like pretty normally behaved children as far as I can see. I am always amazed at children who are unable to sit still and quietly during a concert/show and who don't seem to be able to sit at a table in a restaurant for the duration of a meal.

Staff, I expect. I mean mine were pretty good and could’ve done that from quite a young age and I’m a single parent without an army of staff at my disposal, but yeah, I’m sure when the children are brought in to them they are great parents.

Hi Carole

I said almost the same thing.

I saw Louis come out of church and just stand.

I said to my DH “any of our grandsons at that age would have had their jacket half hanging off their shoulders and be running around with a stick. How do they teach their family that it’s best behaviour always”

I guess the children are bought up knowing the eyes of the world are always on them. Quite sad really, but beautifully behaved and turned out nonetheless.

They have been trained. They are royal. You obviously can't imagine that they live a completely different life to you, however much the press tries to normalise them. They live on another planet to us.

Hear, hear.

So many threads on here at the moment which are depressing to read. Why are the behaviour expectations on our children so low?

It’s not about ‘perfect’ parenting or expecting a toddler to sit through a four hour ceremony. It’s about showing children by example how to behave appropriately in a situation.

These aren't "normal " kids. They are trained to work from the day they are born.

There are lots of posts on here from people who think its normal behaviour for kids to be able to behave impeccably at all times in public, in church, in restaurants etc. it's not. Some kids can, some can't.

But the royal kids do it because it's their job.

This exactly. However well they behave is really down a lot (not fully) to their full time Norland Nanny who does the morning routine (even if W and/or K take them to school), after school care, uniforms, diaries, homework, dinner, bath and bedtime. That's what I read anyway, who knows if it's true, but she must have a huge influence on their behaviour.

Given the standard of behaviour exhibited by most kids I come across these days, it does sometimes feel alien watching the royal children.

I'm 68 and was given gentle but clear expectations by my parents before any public outing (and dad wasn't averse to a tiny bit of bribery, either, if he thought it might be tricky for us - 'you know those drawing pencils you want?' 😄)