Princess Kate is launching a new initiative focused on raising awareness of the critical role social and emotional development plays in the well-being of children aged 0-5. This new phase of her ongoing work highlights the importance of early childhood experiences and their lasting impact on future mental and physical health.
The Princess of Wales, 43, will be actively promoting this new aspect of her campaign in the coming days, marking a gradual return to her public duties after a period of relative privacy. She has outlined her vision in a foreword to The Shaping Us Framework, a collaborative effort by academics, clinicians, and practitioners in human development from the UK and around the globe.
Research conducted by the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood reveals a significant gap in public understanding of early childhood development. While 94% of respondents acknowledge the importance of social and emotional skills for adult happiness, 42% admit to having limited or no understanding of how these skills develop in early childhood.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/princess-of-wales-ty-hafan-childrens-hospice-013025-21-7950b9baab524525964b713ef62f974f.jpg)
The “Shaping Us” campaign, initiated in January 2023, aims to address this knowledge gap. Following its launch, Princess Kate actively promoted the campaign in various locations, including Leeds. Despite facing personal health challenges in the past year, including an abdominal operation and cancer diagnosis, she has remained committed to this crucial area of work, continuing to engage with her staff on the initiative throughout her treatment and recovery.
In her foreword, Princess Kate emphasizes the complexities of modern society, highlighting issues like mistrust, misunderstanding, and isolation, which contribute to poor mental health, addiction, and abuse. She stresses the need for a societal “reset” by prioritizing the development and nurturing of social and emotional skills.
The report, released on February 2nd, underscores the importance of early childhood as a “golden opportunity” to provide children with a strong foundation for life. However, it also emphasizes that these skills continue to develop throughout adulthood, reinforcing that it’s never too late to invest in personal growth.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/princess-of-wales-ty-hafan-childrens-hospice-013025-6-084a604c29f94d3d88469f3ffeb61b3c.jpg)
Princess Kate’s work centers on the crucial role of positive relationships and interactions between parents, caregivers, and young children in fostering healthy social and emotional development. The framework encourages individuals and organizations to actively contribute to making this model a reality for everyone.
Christian Guy, executive director of the Centre for Early Childhood, stresses the urgent need to recognize and prioritize social and emotional skills, emphasizing the profound impact of early childhood development on individuals and society.
The “Shaping Us” framework is not intended to replace existing models but rather to provide a universal and accessible language for discussing social and emotional skills across various life aspects and engaging a wider audience.
Princess Kate’s increasing public appearances, including visits to Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice, a textile factory in South Wales, and a Holocaust commemoration event in London with Prince William, signal her gradual return to royal duties following her cancer remission announcement on January 14th. She is now the patron of Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice.
