Duchess Kate Endorses Tiny Happy People: "Gold Dust For Parents"

Tonight, Kensington Palace announced the Duchess of Cambridge has "endorsed the national launch of Tiny Happy People, a BBC platform providing resources and support to parents and carers of children aged 0-4." 

Kate has been involved with the project for some time. Last November, the Court Circular recorded a meeting with the BBC Children’s and Education team and then the BBC's General Director. It was reported at the time we would hear more in due course. We now know discussions focused on Tiny Happy People, with the Duchess sharing input on the creation of several resources including videos, activities and games. Kate contributed to both The Science of Singing to Bump and How eye contact is key to your baby's language learning. Both resources are popular videos on the website.

Kate joined a group of parents with their children for a special event at Sandringham last week.

Hello! reports: "Kate held a socially distanced meeting in a garden last week with Ryan and his eight-month-old daughter Mia; Henrietta, Abu and their 11-month-old daughter Amirah; and Kerry, Darren and their two-year-old son Dexter to see how they have used the resources."

The Duchess will appear on BBC Breakfast in the morning to discuss the initiative which she describes as "gold dust for parents" with Louise Minchin. In a preview from the conversation Kate 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. Hearing some of the things from the parents today, Ryan at the beginning, saying how his baby has got five different cries. He's learnt a huge amount from Tiny Happy People and it's information like that I wish I had had as a first-time mum, but, for so many parents, it's gold dust really for families to be given those tips and tools to be able to use, particularly in these first five years."

The Duchess said "Louis doesn't understand social distancing" and wants to "cuddle everything and particularly babies younger than him".

In a statement Kate said: "Families and carers are at the heart of nurturing the next generation of happy, healthy adults, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to turn to for advice. Tiny Happy People is an invaluable resource which provides parents and carers with support and tips, as well as simple activities to ensure children develop the language skills they need to have the best possible start in life."

More from the BBC: "Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life. We’ll show you why and how you can bond with your child, before they’re born and throughout their early lives - it’s never too early to start. Our ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help your child’s development. In England, 1 in 4 children starting primary school are behind with their level of literacy development by the time they start primary school, rising to more than 1 in 3 (42%) in some areas. The picture is similar in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland too. Language and communication skills unlock literacy, and that’s why Tiny Happy People is concentrating on the building blocks of language development."

The Telegraph reports:

'A spokesman for the BBC said: “At the heart of the initiative is a simple message - talk to children from as early an age as possible.” The website promises a range of free films, articles, quizzes and parenting tips to help to nurture children’s language from pregnancy onwards. 

Lord Hall, BBC director-general, said: “We couldn’t be more proud of the part we’re playing in this amazing partnership.

“Growing up happy and healthy is the greatest gift we can give to any child.  This campaign embodies our mission to inform, educate and entertain. The BBC has created hundreds of videos and written content that we hope will make a real difference.”

Kensington Palace noted the Royal Foundation is committed to supporting the long term rollout and possible expansion of Tiny Happy People. There's an active Facebook page with plenty of fascinating snippets and videos available here. Below, a Monday Motivation graph.

The Duchess chose Emilia Wickstead's Anatola pleated polka-dot crepe shirtdress for the event. The piece is described as: "Emilia Wickstead’s AW19 collection draws inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy, and this black and white polka-dot shirtdress effortlessly captures 1980s Italian nostalgia. Exclusive to MATCHESFASHION, it’s crafted from floaty crepe to a fluid silhouette which is cinched with a buckled belt, then falls to a knife-pleated midi-length skirt and fastens with discreet buttons." Kate's appears to be a custom piece with alterations to the sleeve area in particular.

The piece was on sale for $608 before selling out.

And completed the look with her Castaner Carina wedges. They are available in multiple colours at Net-A-Porter.

Tiny Happy People is a terrific resource, I'm very much looking forward to seeing Kate and the Royal Foundation's continued collaboration with the BBC. The past several months have been grueling for all of us, and I imagine particularly stressful for new parents. It's wonderful to see another initiative in place. This is an area very close to Kate's heart and a natural extension of her early years work.