Kate, Princess of Wales has penned the foreword for a new handbook for parents and teachers on how to help Brits early years’ development

The Princess of Wales has said we must recognise the need to “reset, restore and rebalance” our lives as part of her crusade to help the early years development of children.

The future queen, who is continuing her recovery from cancer, told how the state of modern life was leaving many feeling “isolated and vulnerable” during troubled periods

In the foreword to a new handbook for parents and educators, Kate said those stresses can often result in “poor mental health, addiction and abuse” that was “devastating” for those affected and society.

As part of the launch for the new initiative aimed at developing the nation’s “social and emotional skills”, Kate will this week launch the project with a personal engagement.

The princess’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has published the Shaping Us Framework aimed at increasing awareness of these soft or life skills to inspire action across society.

The Princess of Wales last year during a visit to “Dadvengers”, a community for dads and their children ( 
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PA)
In her personal statement, Kate told how the research into changing the lives of millions of children is aimed at alleviating the human cost from a world sometimes filled with “mistrust and misunderstanding”.

The solution, she said, is to “develop and nurture” the social and emotional skills we all possess from the moment we are born which are the “bedrock of any healthy, happy society”, but this must be a priority if we are to “thrive”.

The mum-of three is continuing her return to royal duties after eight months of chemotherapy having been diagnosed with cancer last February.

In the foreword for a report outlining the framework, she said: “Modern society is complex.

“At times, it can feel like the world is filled with mistrust and misunderstanding, leaving many people feeling isolated and vulnerable during difficult times.

“The impact of this, poor mental health, addiction and abuse, can be devastating, for individuals and for society.

“If we are to address this properly, if we are to find real, lasting solutions to these deep-rooted challenges and create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance. We must invest in humankind.”

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to London Early Years Foundation Stockwell Gardens Nursery and Pre-school, in south west London ( 
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PA)
Royal sources said Kate is “excited” to join the planned event to showcase the first project based on the framework, her fourth public engagement of the year as she continues to make a gradual return to royal duties after completing her cancer treatment last summer.

In 2023 Kate launched her Shaping Us initiative, an ambitious campaign described as her “life’s work” and aimed at raising the profile of the crucial early years period of a child’s development, from pregnancy to the age of five.

The new framework is part of this work and comprises 30 social and emotional skills grouped into six clusters: know ourselves, manage our emotions, focus our thoughts, communicate with others, nurture our relationships and explore the world.

In the foreword she added: “The Shaping Us Framework is designed to provide an accessible way of focusing on social and emotional skills.

“It can be used by organisations of all shapes and sizes to design and deliver interventions that raise awareness across society, and to support the development of these critically important skills for people at all stages of life.

“Most importantly, it shows that we can all play a vital part in building a more loving, empathetic, and compassionate society, and a world with humanity reconnected.”

The Princess of Wales takes part in a Dad Walk in the local park during a visit to “Dadvengers” ( 
Image:
PA)

The Centre for Early Childhood’s annual perceptions survey found that while 94% of 5,353 people, interviewed by Ipsos last May, believed social and emotional skills were important to happiness in adult life, 42% had little or no understanding of how these skills developed during early childhood.

Royal sources described the publication of the framework as a “milestone moment for the Centre for Early Childhood’s work in this space”.

The princess concluded: “At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.”

One of the framework’s main aims is to introduce a universal way to talk about social and emotional development that cuts across disciplines and reaches audiences.

It is hoped the new initiative will be used to inform conversations, like those between early years practitioners and a parent, help design and deliver campaigns and programmes on a range of topics, from young people’s mental health to corporate leadership, and support organisational development like recruitment processes and human resources activities.

Vicky Nevin, policy manager at the NSPCC, said: “The early years of life are a time of great opportunity, but they are also a time of great vulnerability. We would like to thank the princess for raising awareness of babies’ social and emotional wellbeing.

“We know that raising a young child can be challenging and stressful. Families need to know where to find trusted advice to do the best for their baby. When parents feel supported, they are better able to support their children.

“That’s why health visiting and Family Hubs should be accessible to every family.”