Social skills for children at the centre of new framework from Royal Foundation 

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood published a new framework earlier this month aimed at improving awareness of and knowledge about social and emotional skills to inspire action across society, as part of The Princess of Wales’ mission to create a happier, healthier society.

Social and emotional skills are fundamental to the way in which children’s future mental and physical well-being unfolds, shaping the essence of who they are, how they manage their emotions and thoughts, how they communicate with others, how they relate to others and how they explore the world around them. 

These skills influence everything from the ability to form positive relationships, to capacity for learning, working, and coping with adversity. They all have their foundations in early childhood and continue to be refined and enhanced throughout the lifespan.

“To create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance…,” The Princess of Wales wrote in the report foreword.  

“That means taking a profound look at ourselves and our own behaviours, emotions, and feelings. It means getting much better at acting with compassion and empathy towards one another… better understanding how we can protect and build upon what connects and unites us… and acknowledging that society is something we build together, through the actions we take every day.”

“At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.”

Although great strides have been made in recent decades in the study of these skills, the language used to describe them can be complicated and people from different sectors or backgrounds often understand social and emotional development in different ways, which can hinder progress.

The new framework draws on the expertise of academics, clinicians, and practitioners in human development from across the globe. It does not intend to replace existing frameworks but offers – for the first time – a universal and flexible way to talk about social and emotional skills that cuts across all areas of life and engages a broad audience. It covers early childhood and continues through to adulthood, recognising that our social and emotional skills underpin all areas of human development.

“It is time that we recognised and acted upon the undeniable significance of social and emotional skills and give them the recognition they deserve,” Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Centre for Early Childhood said.

“Getting this right in early childhood, when we lay the foundations upon which these skills continue to grow throughout our lives – could have a truly profound impact on the future of individuals and of our society.”

Its publication comes as the Centre’s annual public perceptions survey reveals that, while 94 per cent of people believe that social and emotional skills are important to happiness in adult life, 42 per cent of people report having little or no understanding of how these skills develop during early childhood.

In fact, with positive, nurturing relationships, these vital skills can begin to develop before a baby is even born and during those earliest weeks, months, and years of a child’s life. It is during this time that the brain is at its most malleable and develops faster than at any other time of our lives. These skills continue to be refined and enhanced throughout life, but the older people get, the harder that gets, which is why early childhood presents such a golden opportunity to get this right from the very start.

The relationships and interactions between parents and carers and their babies and young children is the most crucial factor that can influence social and emotional development during early childhood. However, it is vital to remember that parenting does not occur in a vacuum.

The aim of the framework is to help those working across disciplines to communicate effectively, speaking with one voice to raise awareness of the critical importance of social and emotional skills and build a shared understanding of their development. In doing so, there is a far better chance of inspiring greater commitment, action, and investment during early childhood and beyond.

The framework can also make a real difference across society by being used to inform conversations, for example, between early years practitioners and parents about the development of these skills. It can be used to design and deliver campaigns and programmes of work on a range of topics, from young people’s mental health to corporate leadership.

It can also be used as a foundational structure for decision-makers at local, regional, and national levels and among different agencies as they develop responses to support social and emotional development.  And it can also be used to support organisational development – wellbeing programmes, team building, recruitment processes, human resources activities, and professional development strategies.

The first project to be based on the framework is due to be launched by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, later this week.

Read the report and supporting materials here.