The Princess of Wales puts focus on emotional growth with new work for early years

The Princess of Wales has spoken of the ”sacred opportunity to transform our societies for the better” as her early years foundation launches new work focused on how children’s brains develop.

A set of films focuses on unpacking brain science to explore emotional and social growth in youngsters.

Kate’s latest project shows how every day actions can support the development of children in the very first months and years of their lives.

The Princess of Wales puts focus on importance of love and support for children

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has released new material looking at how warm and loving responses between children and adults they trust can promote positive brain development in this time.

They look at the science behind ‘everyday moments of connection’ to help early years’ practitioners as well as parents and carers support social and emotional development.

It builds on the centre’s Shaping Us Framework. The Early Years Foundation will work with charities, universities and professional bodies to integrate these new films into training around the country.

The Shaping Us Framework was launched earlier in 2025 showing the social and emotional skills that leading academics and practitioners know to be important to help young people grow up to be happy and healthy throughout their lives.

The Princess of Wales worked closely with those developing the material and was seen talking to them about the research as the films were launched.

Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Sam Wass, two of the UK’s leading experts in childhood development, have been closely involved in the series which incorporates animation to explain the science that can have such a crucial impact on young people.

Kate talks about vital role of nurture for young children

As the films were launched, Kate 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.”

The films focus on topics including how young people grow an emotionally healthy brain, how to notice and navigate feelings and how to create connections. They also cover supporting early learning, the importance of healthy back and forth connections and how young people and adults can work to manage big feelings together.

The introductory film, launching the series, was illustrated by Maggie Stephenson and it’s available in English, Welsh and British Sign Language.

Organisations including Barnados, Home Start UK, Place2Be and Save the Children have already committed to using the films in their professional development and work with families.

The Princess of Wales said ”“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.”

Early childhood has been a focus of the Princess of Wales for many years. And she’ll soon have extra support in the Royal Family for her work. Peter Phillips is set to marry Harriet Sperling, a paediatric nurse with a special interest in how the brain develops in the earliest years of life.