Princess Kate launches new project to explore role nature plays in early years development

Princess Kate launches new project to explore role nature plays in early years development The Princess of Wales has commissioned a new project exploring how nature can support social and emotional development in babies and young children Princess Kate has commissioned a new research project as part of her early years work, to explore how the role of nature can support social and emotional development in babies and young children. The Princess of Wales has long been a champion of early years development with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The new research will bring together evidence, expertise and practical experience from around the UK and the world, to better understand how nature-rich environments can help nurture confident, curious, creative and emotionally healthy children. To learn more about the potential of nature-based learning in the earliest years of life, Kate travelled to Cornwall yesterday to launch the project, working with The Duchy of Cornwall as a founding partner. During her visit to Cornwall, a new portrait was snapped of the princess to launch the project, while a video was also shared on Kensington Palace’s social media, showing Kate standing in a woodland area in a knitted jumper and jacket, with her curled hair flowing freely. In the video, Kate said: "New scientific research increasingly shows just how important nature is for our psychological and physiological wellbeing. "Nature is such an extraordinary environment for us all and, in this tech-driven, digital age, spending quality time outdoors has never been more important. This project is about exploring how nature, creativity and relationships can best support the healthy development of babies and young children." "We believe that taking a whole-child approach is important, and nature becomes a wonderful place to explore how we can successfully nurture the social and emotional skills that underpin lifelong health and wellbeing.” The future queen has commissioned The Centre for Early Childhood, working alongside expert partners, to explore how nature-rich environments, alongside nurturing relationships, can help babies and young children build core social and emotional skills that are the basis for lifelong wellbeing. The research project will take this developmental science and explore how it can be applied more ambitiously and effectively through nature-based settings. The announcement of the research comes as new polling, commissioned by the Centre, shows that 84% of parents agree that spending time in nature helps their child's wellbeing and development, while only 33% report their child spends time in nature every day. 62% want their child to spend more time in nature overall and 56% want more nature-based experiences through childcare and education. Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said of the new research project: "The Princess has long championed the importance of the earliest years and the environments in which children grow, play and learn as a golden opportunity to create a healthier, happier society for future generations. “There is a real opportunity here to shape the future of early years development, and this project will bring together evidence, expertise and practical experience from around the UK and the world, to better understand how nature-rich environments can help nurture confident, curious, creative and emotionally healthy children." Princess Kate has a longstanding interest in the connection between nature, creativity, relationships and human development, as she has focused tirelessly on developing her Early Years work since launching the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021. Since then, the future queen’s work has taken her to schools around the UK, as well as internationally to Denmark and Italy, to see how different communities explore unique approaches to early years development. In recent years, Kate has increasingly highlighted the role that nature can play in helping individuals and communities flourish. Through projects such as the Mother Nature series, and in her reflections following her visit to Italy, the future queen has spoken about the importance of creating the conditions in which people, and particularly children, can thrive.