Princess of Wales ‘absolutely determined’ to change attitudes about child development

The Princess of Wales has said that she is “absolutely determined” to change attitudes about the development of children during the early years of their lives through an awareness-raising campaign highlighting the critical importance of a person’s first five years in shaping their adult life, which will be launched by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood this week.

In an open letter released last Saturday, she urged people to think about how they make the world a “more supportive and loving place” for children, writing “during our very early childhood, our brains develop at an amazing rate – faster than any other time of our lives. Our experiences, relationships, and surroundings at that young age, shape the rest of our lives.”

“It is a time where we lay the foundations and building blocks for life. It is when we learn to understand ourselves, understand others and understand the world in which we live.”

“But as a society, we currently spend much more of our time and energy on later life.”

“I am absolutely determined that this long-term campaign is going to change that.”

The campaign will begin by highlighting how children develop during early childhood and why these years matter so much in terms of shaping who they become.

A group of eight experts from across academia, science and the early years sector has been appointed to offer strategic advice to The Princess of Wales and provide oversight of the work of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Advisory Group members are:

Professor Peter Fonagy OBE, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London (UCL) and Chief Executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Professor Eamon McCrory, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, UCL
Dr Alain Gregoire, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and President and Founder of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance
Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE, Registrar at the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Ed Vainker OBE, co-founder of Reach Academy Feltham
Carey Oppenheim, Project Lead at the Nuffield Foundation
Imran Hussain, Director of Policy and Campaigns for Action for Children
Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE, Associate Director at Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and Trustee at What Works in Children’s Social Care

The Advisory Group met with Her Royal Highness for the first time at Windsor Castle on Wednesday 25 January. They will go on to support The Princess and the Centre as work is accelerated to promote the fundamental importance of the first five years of a child’s life.

Several of those involved have already played a pivotal role in the work the Princess of Wales has been pursuing for more than a decade in this field, helping her to shape her work on the issue and adding to her determination to help change the way people think about early childhood.

As well as the science and research experts, the campaign will feature notable faces from music, sport and television, with the ultimate goal of creating the type of public interest and support which will give generations of children the best start in life.

“I urge everyone reading this, to take the opportunity to learn more about this incredible time of life, to think back to your own childhood and how it shaped you, and most importantly, to ask yourselves what you can do to make the world a more supportive and loving place for our children,” the Princess said.

“Because healthy, happy children shape a healthy, happy future.”

Learn more about the work of the Centre here.