By Sheila Mckenzie-
The Duchess of Cambridge’s bedtime read for Sunday’s episode of CBeebies bedtime stories ‘The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark’ is a winner for young children and will be used to encourage the reading development of young children and also improve their mental well being.
Kate Middleton enjoyed the book as a young girl and reads to her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The book is generally read to children between the ages of 3 and 6, but older children also enjoy the book. The Duchess of Cambridge used the book to urge children to confront their fears.
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The book, by Jill Tomlinson, tells the story of baby barn owl Plop, who is helped by others to grow in confidence and overcome his fears.
At the end of the reading, she added: “Wow, what an encouraging tale.
“We can all feel scared sometimes just like our little owl friend Plop, but as Mrs Barn Own said, ‘It’s better to find out about the things that scare us before we make up our mind’.
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“And with the help of others, we can often face things that worry us. Now it’s time for bed. Night night and sleep tight.”
The duchess took part in the broadcast on the BBC ’s channel for young children to mark Children’s Mental Health Week- a national event that aims to highlight the importance of the issue.
Tomlinson’s book was chosen to blend in with this year’s theme of Growing Together.
Palace aides said she also chose the book because the story – about a barn owl called Plop who overcomes his fear of the dark with the help of friends – chimes with the mental health challenges children can face.
Ms Tomlinson wrote the book in 1968, just as multiple sclerosis began to attack her body – a new obstacle for her to overcome after years of struggling with serious mental health problems. Her symptoms began as post-natal depression, but then intensified.
Mrs Goodwin, 67, said it took her mother six years to overcome her depression, which included two spells in psychiatric hospitals.
‘My fondest memory of her is her smile, I think,’ said Mrs Goodwin. ‘She was always fun and lively, even though we were being horrible teenagers at the time.’
Ms Tomlinson painstakingly wrote her final books by dictating to her children, before finally using a special board on which she would select individual letters by blowing at them with a pipe or gesturing with her eyes.
She died in 1976, aged 45, having raised three children, Kate and two younger brothers.
Fear comes in many forms and for many different reasons, and can have a serious impact on children.
It can start from simple things like fear of the dark which can sometimes be sparked from bad dreams or nightmares at night and worsened by bullying in school or even fear of anything alien to a person. Middletons’s read was worm and sweet.
Kate Middleton shared the post with caption, “Reading ‘The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark’ by Jill Tomlinson for #CBeebiesBedtimeStories to mark Children’s Mental Health Week.”
She further said, “Swipe for a sneak peak.”
Official Duties
Only last week, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess Of Cambridge will be adding rugby to her official duties, taking over two patronages that formerly belonged to Prince Harry. prioe to him stepping away from royal life. Middleton, whose reputation has been unblemished for much, if not all of her marriage to Prince William, has been given the privilege of adding the popular sport to her royal name.
Kate, 40, now graced with the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League patronages , once the pride of the Duke of Sussex, was at Twickenham Stadium, the home of England rugby to meet and train with players, coaches and referees ahead of the Six Nations championships which start this weekend.
The princess was welcomed into the stadium by England captains Courtney Lawes and Sarah Hunter, where she chatted to a group of England women players who are preparing for the women’s world cup in New Zealand this autumn, including Abby Dow, Poppy Cleall and Shaunagh Brown.
A spokesperson for the dutchess last week confirmed that the roles of patron of the Rugby Football League and patron of the Rugby Football Union had been given to Kate by the queen and “closely align with Her Royal Highness’ longstanding passion for sport and the lifelong benefits it can provide, both within our communities and on an individual level.”
As the news broke, Kate shared a personal message on social media, writing, “I am so thrilled to become Patron of the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union. … I look forward to working with them across all levels of the games, and to cheering England on in what promises to be an exciting year for both sports! C.” The caption accompanied an upbeat clip showing a Sweaty Betty–clad duchess throwing a rugby ball to players of different backgrounds.
Middleton spent Wednesday morning last week at London’s Twickenham Stadium—one of the biggest rugby stadiums in the world. The engagement was a chance to meet England rugby team players, coaches, and referees, as well as join a training session taking place on the pitch.
The duchess’s children, Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were no doubt happy when Mom returned home to Kensington Palace—players gave the duchess mini England kits as gifts for the trio. “Now that there is a move towards co-ed sport, it’s not just girls playing netball, but other sports like rugby, which is great. They’re all enjoying it,” she said of her children’s enthusiasm for the sport. “Louis is kamikaze, we’re worrying about when he gets older, he’ll be in the middle of everything!”
Kate is well known for her love of sport. On royal engagements in the past, she has been seen playing tennis and netball, cycling, running, and even enjoying ping-pong. She is already patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (the home of Wimbledon) and is royal patron of the SportsAid charity, which helps future sports stars by funding their early career years.
Ralph Rimmer, chief executive officer of the Rugby Football League—the national governing body for Rugby League in the United Kingdom—said, “We are truly honoured by the appointment of The Duchess of Cambridge as the Rugby Football League’s Royal Patron. We are delighted to welcome her as we prepare to host Men’s, Women’s, Wheelchair and Physical Disability Rugby League World Cups in England this autumn.”
Bill Sweeney, chief executive officer of the Rugby Football Union—England’s governing body for grassroots and elite rugby union—added, “As rugby clubs have re-opened across the country, players, officials, and volunteers are celebrating being back in the game together, and we know the support of The Duchess will be greatly valued from our grass roots clubs and fast-growing women and girls’ game, right up to our elite Men’s and Women’s England teams.”
The Duchess Of Sussex will be attending England’s Six Nations Championships against Wales at Twickenham Stadium.
Her contribution to the mental well being of children and to sport is invaluable.
Keep it up Kate, you are much appreciated.
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