Kate, Princess of Wales, has launched a series of animated films through her foundation to support the development of youngsters.
The project is aimed at helping those working with families and carers explain the vital importance of social and emotional development, with the member of the British royal family addressing the importance of raising children better equipped to “face the future”.
Developed by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and released today on YouTube, the main film and six accompanying explainer pieces are designed for use by charities, early years education professionals, and families.
The series is also available in Welsh and with British Sign Language.
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 – which was established in 2021.
The Princess of Wales 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.”
She added: “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 Princess of Wales is currently on a break from royal duties. It has been almost one year since she began her gradual return to work after announcing she had finished chemotherapy.