The Princess of Wales has developed a series of films designed to help people working with children seize the ‘golden opportunity’ to change the course of their young lives.
Catherine, 44, has been ‘closely involved’ in the creation of the short animated films – including spending time with the illustrators – that are being described as a ‘key step’ in her Centre for Early Childhood’s work raising awareness of the importance of social and emotional development in the earliest years of a child’s life.
They will be used by people who work with babies, children, and families – helping them understand how what happens to youngsters between the ages of birth to five can affect the entire course of their lives.
Speaking about the launch of the films, the princess 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.’
Catherine, Princess of Wales,has been ‘closely involved’ in the creation of the short animated films, which are being described as a ‘key step’ in her Centre for Early Childhood’s work
Catherine, 44, spent time with the illustrators while the films were being developed
She said the short films can be used by adults to help foster social and emotional development during children’s earliest years
The films unpack the complex concept of brain science in an easy and effective way, emphasising how simple everyday ‘moments of connection’ can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life.
The future queen was moved to make a difference in the field after visiting a number of services for people with mental health and addiction issues, realising that one of the main things they had in common was unstable experiences and difficulties in early life.
The series combines the creative talents of a group of inspiring illustrators and animators from around the world, with the scientific rigour of some of the UK’s leading figures in child development.
They have also worked with an advisory group of early childhood professionals working with families from across the UK.
The princess met with the teams at a ‘creative workshop’ in June at Kensington Palace.
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, research has shown.
The purpose of these animated films is to help increase that understanding – and in doing so improve outcomes for the development of babies and young children.
Catherine’s Centre for Early Childhood is now working with universities, charities and professional bodies to build the films into training and practice around the country.
They showcase how adults can create nurturing, loving interactions with children
Catherine’s Centre for Early Childhood is now working with universities, charities and professional bodies to build the films into training and practice around the country
The series, which has also been translated into Welsh and British Sign Language, uses different styles of illustration, from curated line illustrations to papercraft, to help bring core concepts related to child development to life in an engaging way.
Among the topics covered are ‘how to grow an emotionally healthy brain’, ‘noticing and navigating feelings’, ‘managing big feelings together’, ‘back and forth interactions’, ‘supporting early earning’ and ‘creating space for connection’.
A source added: ‘The princess has been closely involved in the development of the films, it’s something she is extremely passionate about and their release is a key step in her Centre’s work to continue raisisng awareness about the importance of social and emotional development in the earliest years of a child’s life.’
Known for her wide-ranging interests and talents, Catherine has also curated her own ‘mini display’ at the V&A East Storehouse in London, it was revealed last month.
Catherine, who is Royal Patron of the V&A, has personally worked with the museum’s curatorial team to select eight significant works from across its large collection for her ‘Makers and Creators’ exhibition, unveiled on July 30.
Her chosen objects include a watercolour study of a forest glade by children’s author Beatrix Potter, a 15th-century earthenware tile and a furnishing screen designed by William Morris’s assistant, J H Dearle, in the mid-1880s.
The display also features Oliver Messel’s costume for the Fairy of the Woodland Glades, worn by Diana Vere in The Royal Ballet’s 1960 production of The Sleeping Beauty.
The princess, who was given a behind-the-scenes tour of the storehouse in June, selected an 19th-century hand quilted bedcover, an oil panting, a Qing dynasty porcelain vase and a sculpture by Clemence Dane.
The princess is said to be ‘extremely passionate’ about the project
Among the topics covered are ‘how to grow an emotionally healthy brain’, and ‘noticing and navigating feelings’
Another subject that features in the films is ‘managing big feelings together’
The topics ‘Back and forth interactions’, ‘supporting early earning and ‘creating space for connection’ are also covered
Visitors to the Storehouse will be able to view the collection as part of the self-guided experience until early 2026.
The Makers and Creators displaybrings together objects chosen by Catherine to celebrate past makers and creators, and show how historic objects can influence fashion, design, film, art and creativity today.
The display, one of over 100 changing ‘mini displays’ aims to show how ‘individual, unique objects can come together to create a collective whole that helps us to explore our social and cultural experiences, and the role we play in the wider tapestry of life’.
An information sheet accompanying the display includes the credit: ‘written by: Her Royal Highness Princess of Wales’.
The storehouse opened to the public earlier this year andgives unprecedented free public access to the museum’s world-famous collection of more than 600,000 treasures from every creative discipline including fashion, film, visual art, design and performance.
