The Princess of Wales has published a lengthy and personal essay on the ‘epidemic of disconnection’ as she continues to champion a cause close to her heart
Princess Kate has spoken out on the “epidemic of disconnection” in a powerful essay, warning others about the dangers of screen time and how it can impact a child’s development.
In collaboration with Professor Robert Waldinger from Harvard University, the Princess of Wales, through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, published the essay titled ‘The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World’, outlining the importance of social and emotional development in early childhood years.
The essay sets out two core points: how warm, loving and meaningful relationships are the single greatest investment we can make for health, happiness and longevity, especially in the early years of our lives; and how modern life and technology, rising loneliness and fragmented attention, is undermining our ability to form those connections, putting at risk the social and emotional development of babies and young children.
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It also references scientific research showing that social and emotional skills formed in the earliest years shape lifelong wellbeing. “We’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us,” Kate writes, in reference to the proliferation of screens in our everyday lives.
“While new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection,” she adds. “While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite.
“Our smartphones, tablets, and computers have become sources of constant distraction, fragmenting our focus and preventing us from giving others the undivided attention that relationships require.
“We sit together in the same room while our minds are scattered across dozens of apps, notifications, and feeds. We’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us.”
Kate warns “we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires” by being distracted by our phones, as she urges people to “look people in the eye and be fully there”, explaining that “this is our children’s greatest inheritance”.
In the essay, the princess continues to reinforce the message she has long championed: that the first five years of a child’s life are the most crucial for developing social and emotional skills that will be used throughout our lives.
She explains how this helps people form healthy relationships, resolve conflict and grow into adults capable of building loving partnerships, families and communities themselves.
“The evidence is clear: if you could invest in just one thing to help you and your family thrive, invest in the relationships you have with each other. This is not just about creating a more loving environment for our children. It’s about creating a more loving world. And that begins with a simple, deliberate act.
“Look the people you care about in the eye and be fully there – because that is where love begins. Babies and children who are raised in attentive and loving environments are better able to develop the social and emotional skills that will allow them to grow into adults capable of building loving partnerships, families, communities. This is our children’s greatest inheritance.”
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said on Kate’s essay: “The publication of the essay reflects The Princess’s ongoing dedication to early years, translating science into practical support so every child can thrive.”
