What’s gold dust for mum Kate...
A BEAMING Duchess of Cambridge chatted happily to families after she praised a new BBC online service as gold dust for parents.
Kate said she wished the Tiny Happy People free platform had been there for her as a first-time mother.The Duchess, mother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, has been working on the initiative for months. She visited Broadcasting House in November to contribute to two cartoons – one on the science of singing to bump while pregnant, and another on how eye contact is key to language learning.
The BBC said the Duchess helped with the character and background development for the two animations.To mark the national launch, Kate met three families involved in the piloting of the resource, which features free activity and play ideas for children aged four and under.
In a garden last week she met Kerry, Darren and their two-yearold son Dexter and Henrietta, Abu and their 11-month-old daughter Amirah.
Kate told BBC Breakfast’s Louise Minchin, how there was a gap in the support parents get. She said: “In the first few months, there’s a huge amount of support from midwives and health visitors. But from then onwards, there’s a massive gap before they then start school.
“This has information I wish I had had as a first-time mum, but, for so many parents, it’s gold dust to get those tips, particularly in these first five years.” Tiny Happy
People encourages parents to talk to their children from as early an age as possible.
In England, one in four children starting primary school are behind with their language learning, rising to 42 per cent in some areas, according to the Department for Education.
The website has films, articles and quizzes to nurture language.