Childhood Development Expert Says Kate Middleton Uses Code Words And Body Language To Discipline Her Kids In Public

Mar 24, 2020 by apost team

As a duchess, public figure and mother of three young children, Kate Middleton has her hands full.

But armed with a slew of clever parenting tricks ― including some stern code words ― Middleton has received recent praise in the British press for being a capable, authoritative parent.

Being a mother, let alone a mother of two princes and one princess, is hard work. Luckily for her, the Duchess of Cambridge, the mother of Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1, parents with relative aplomb. Even the child development expert Dr. Rebecca Chicot, who specializes parenting solutions, seems to think so, calling Middleton a “sensitive and warm mum” in an interview with The Sun.

Dr. Chicot went on to add that unlike the “autocratic parenting” philosophy that was popular in Victorian England and characterized by its strict rules and punishments, Middleton seems to prefer an “authoritative” parenting style. But for all those parents dying to know precisely how Middleton corrals her three royal youngsters, what exactly does that mean?

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The 38-year-old mother of three has a variety of her own parenting tricks up her sleeve, which have to do with using certain code words, body language and even encouraging time out in nature.

As far as code words go, instead of putting six-year-old George in a simple timeout, she says “let’s take a break,” and then helps him calm down with a book or puzzle, according to Radar Online. And beyond verbal cues, Middleton is also adept at communicating with her children via body language. At Pippa Middleton’s wedding in 2017, for example, Middleton gave George a pat on the head in order to calm the boy down, according to The Sun. 

 "It’s very hard for any parent to have to parent in public,” Dr. Chicot said. "She seems to be good at making warm contact ‘touch to the head’ which is a nice connection."

Whether its at church or during a royal wedding, similar Middleton techniques include getting down to the child’s eye level while speaking to them, telling naughty children to shush in public by using hand gestures and by raising her pointer finger to let her kids know she means business. Middleton employed her raised-finger technique when her daughter Charlotte was crying and having a tantrum on a Hamburg runway. While that may seem strict, Dr. Chicot said that Middleton’s gesture importantly “shows firmness and warmth  ― neither cajoling or getting angry” and that Middleton correctly got down to her daughter’s level to talk to her.

But Middleton isn’t all discipline either. She also encourages her children to go out in nature. “We grow our own vegetables,” Middleton said in an interview with ITV’s Mary Berry, according to The Sun.

“We’ve got carrots, beans, beetroot – a massive favourite – Louis absolutely loves beetroot. I think being outside and being in nature is such a great environment for [children] to learn lifelong skills, really. Physical, emotional and cognitive skills.”

It’s safe to say that we could all learn a thing or two from the Duchess of Cambridge, who, by Dr. Chicot’s account, is one great mom. “She has a lovely balance of sensitivity and gentle boundaries,” Chicot said. “She doesn’t expect them to behave like little adults and knows that children go through perfectly natural stages like tantrums."

What do you think of Kate’s parenting style? Do you have any parenting tips of your own? Let us know what you think, and pass these tips on to your friends and family.