Animated films, unveiled by the Princess of Wales' foundation, aim to promote the growth and improvement of young children.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, has unveiled a series of seven animated films through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The series, available on YouTube and in Welsh and British Sign Language, focuses on childhood development, particularly the social and emotional growth of children from pregnancy to age five.
The content of the series is a unique blend of artistry and science. It illustrates crucial aspects such as emotional brain development, managing feelings, back-and-forth interactions, early learning, and the importance of nurturing connections in early childhood. The visual style combines hand-drawn linework with papercraft animation, making complex early development principles accessible and engaging.
The purpose of the films is to raise awareness among charities, early years education professionals, families, and carers about how nurturing, loving interactions foster essential social and emotional skills. These skills are framed as fundamental building blocks for healthy relationships and long-term well-being. The initiative supports the "Shaping Us" framework, a milestone project dedicated to improving understanding of early years development.
The films serve as educational tools designed for charity use, early childhood professionals, and families. They help those involved in early childhood to explain and prioritize emotional and social development. Kate has emphasized that early childhood is a "golden opportunity" to build strong foundations for future health, happiness, and societal transformation, potentially leading to a generation better equipped to face future challenges.
In June, Kate spent time with two illustrators working on the films and met early years practitioners involved in their creation during a creative workshop at her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. It has been almost a year since she began her gradual return to work after announcing she had finished chemotherapy.
The Princess of Wales is currently raising awareness of the extraordinary value of everyday moments of connection in a rapidly changing world. She believes that core social and emotional skills, essential for forming healthy relationships, are fundamental building blocks that can carry individuals through life. By nurturing these skills in babies and children, she aims to raise a younger generation better equipped to face the future.
[1] The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://earlychildhood.org.uk/about-us/
[2] The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. (n.d.). Our Work. Retrieved from https://earlychildhood.org.uk/our-work/
[3] The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. (n.d.). Kate's Work. Retrieved from https://earlychildhood.org.uk/kates-work/
[4] The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. (n.d.). Shaping Us. Retrieved from https://earlychildhood.org.uk/shaping-us/
[5] The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. (n.d.). Animated Film Series. Retrieved from https://earlychildhood.org.uk/animated-film-series/
[1] The animated film series created by the Princess of Wales, in collaboration with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, sheds light on the intricate family-dynamics and lifestyle changes that influence a child's early development, particularly focusing on home-and-garden settings.
[2] These films, accessible on YouTube in Welsh and British Sign Language, are designed to foster relationships, demonstrating the significance of nurturing connections and emotional intelligence for a child's social and emotional growth from pregnancy to age five.
