The Duchess of Cambridge has launched a new survey to help inform her Early Years work: the 5 Big Questions on the Under 5s.
Kensington Palace announced the news on Twitter Tuesday night, calling the 5 Big Questions a landmark survey that “gives people across the UK an opportunity to provide their view on raising the next generation.”
In speaking about her survey, Kate said that she wants to “hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most.
“My ambition is to provide a lasting change for generations to come.”
The month-long survey, which will be conducted by Ipsos Mori, is available online through the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and hopes to receive responses from adults—including those over 16, whether they have children or not—living across the UK to help inform the Duchess’s work.
The questions include:
- “What do you believe is most important for children growing up in the UK today to live a happy adult life?”
- Whether the survey taker believes nature or nurture has a greater role in childhood development
- Which period in a child’s life is the most important to create health and happiness in adulthood
- How the mental health of a parent or carer influences the development of their child
- Whether parents, society, or shared responsibility between both give children the “best chance of health and happiness.”
Kate also said that she values the opinions of parents, families and carers in her work, saying that they “are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I want to listen to them.
“As a parent I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children.”
Kate was in Birmingham on Tuesday at the Birmingham Science Centre to formally launch the 5 Big Questions survey and will visit London, Cardiff and Surrey on Wednesday to continue the launch during a 24-hour tour of the UK. All engagements will be child-based in nature.
At the Thinktank Birmingham Science Centre, Kate told parents that, “I think the early years of life are the most important years, for life long health and happiness.
“They help us avoid adversity, or certainly builds resilience to adversity in later life – prevent challenges with mental later down the line.
“It is estimated that there’s a huge social and economic cost to late intervention of £17bn in England and Wales.
“The early years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime.”
The Duchess of Cambridge has been working on the Early Years Programme with the Royal Foundation with a team of experts who have convened a steering group to help guide her work.
One of the experts, David Holmes, the Chief Executive of Kate’s patronage, Family Action, was at the launch in Birmingham and told reporters that, “Every parent, carer and family wants the best for their child, and raising the profile of the vital early years in a child’s life is work of national importance.
“The insight from this survey will give the early years sector valuable direction in designing and delivering services and support which reflect what matters most to people.”
