Royals How Kate Middleton and Prince William's Parenting Style Influenced Anne Hathaway "They get down on the child's level and speak to them eye to eye to make their child feel empowered," the Oscar winner said of the royal couple By Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit is a Royals Editor, Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 11, 2019 10:07 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Even movie stars are open to adopting some royal parenting moves! Anne Hathaway – who is mom to 2½-year-old son Jonathan Rosebanks with husband Adam Shulman – recently opened up to The Sunday Times about raising her first child, revealing that she took a cue from Prince William and Kate Middleton after reading about their parenting style. “They get down on the child’s level and speak to them eye to eye to make their child feel empowered,” the Oscar winner, 36, said. “I thought that was really cool. I started doing that with Jonathan.” William is often seen squatting to get down to eye level with Prince George, 5, which helps him feel safer and more in control, PEOPLE previously revealed. Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage; Karwai Tang/WireImage “Active listening is one of the most important ways you can send the message, ‘You’re important to me.’ Get down on the child’s level, lean in and make eye contact,” child development expert Gill Connell writes in A Moving Child Is a Learning Child. Prince George and Prince William in 2016. Chris Jackson/Getty Chris Jackson/Getty “Hang on his every word. React with positive verbal and nonverbal cues such as nodding, smiling and hugging. And show broad emotions as he speaks so he knows what it feels like to be understood,” Connell explains. “These simple messages foster self-esteem in powerful ways while encouraging him to communicate even more.” Meghan Markle’s Dad Shares Personal Letter Confirming Her Friends’ Account SplashNews.com William, 36, isn’t the only royal family member who practices this move either! Princess Kate, 37, is often seen getting down to her children’s level. Even former President Barack Obama couldn’t resist making eye-to-eye contact with the future king during his memorable visit to Kensington Palace in April 2016. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Hathaway recently made headlines after revealing that she gave up drinking completely to focus on motherhood. “For 18 years,” the actress told Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on her show. “I’m gonna stop drinking while my son is living in my house.” Paula Lobo/ABC/Getty Hathaway admitted she doesn’t “totally love the way” she drinks, explaining that Jonathan is “getting to an age where he really does need me all the time, in the mornings.” “I did one school run one day where I dropped him off at school — I wasn’t driving, but I was hungover,” the Oscar winner recalled. “That was enough for me. I didn’t love that [experience].”