The Princess of Wales has been involved in the creation of a series of animated films that explain the importance of social and emotional development in young children
The Princess of Wales has spoken about the importance of raising children better equipped to “face the future” as her foundation launched a project to support the development of youngsters.
The future queen has been closely involved in the creation of a series of animated films aimed at helping those working with families and carers explain the vital importance of social and emotional development.
In June, the princess spent time with two of the illustrators working on the films and met early years practitioners also involved in their creation, during a creative workshop at her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
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She is said to be extremely passionate about the release of the films which Kensington Palace has described as a key step in her centre’s work to continue raising awareness about the importance of the early years development of a child’s life.
To mark the release Kate, 43, said: “Early childhood has been recognised as the golden opportunity to build strong foundations for future life, health and happiness.
“The new animated films from The Centre of Early Childhood showcase how adults can create nurturing, loving interactions with children, helping to foster social and emotional development during their earliest years.
“These core social and emotional skills are essential in forming healthy relationships and are fundamental building blocks that can carry us through life.
“That is why we want to raise the awareness of, and celebrate, the extraordinary value of everyday moments of connection which matter more than ever in a rapidly changing world.
“Early childhood offers a sacred opportunity to transform our societies for the better and by nurturing these skills in our babies and children, we will be raising a younger generation better equipped to face the future.”
The introductory film is illustrated by Maggie Stephenson, the artist who worked with the Centre to develop the Shaping Us Framework, animated by Orange and produced by Making Pictures.
The series combines the creative talents of a group of inspiring illustrators and animators from around the world, with the scientific rigour of two of the country’s leading figures in child development, Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Sam Wass, as well as the vast experience of an advisory group of early childhood professionals working with families from across the UK.
Research from the foundation revealed that although 94 per cent of the UK population believe that social and emotional skills are important for happiness in adult life, 42 per cent have little or no idea about how these skills develop during early childhood.
The purpose of these animated films, also available in Welsh and with British Sign Language, is to help increase that understanding, and in doing so, improve outcomes for the development of babies and young children.
Topics covered include how we grow an emotionally healthy brain; noticing and navigating feelings; managing big feelings together; back and forth interactions; supporting early learning; and creating space for connection.
The centre is working with universities, charities and professional bodies to build the films into training and practice across the country.
Earlier this year, The Centre for Early Childhood published the Shaping Us Framework, describing the social and emotional skills that world-leading academics and practitioners know to be important for lifelong health and happiness.
These include our ability to manage our emotions, focus our thoughts and communicate with others. Research suggests they are a core part of shaping the adults we become. They are also acknowledged to influence the choices we make, the way we treat others, how we cope with life’s ups and downs, and the quality of our relationships.
They help us lead a healthy, happy life. And they begin to develop during the very earliest days, weeks and months of our lives.
More than 25 organisations are already working with The Centre for Early Childhood to support practitioners to use the films in their work, ensuring they deliver real change in the quality of services for families, from sharing them with their networks to embedding the films in their training programmes.
