Kate delivered a keynote speech during the What the UK Thinks About the Early Years virtual forum, during which the insights gathered from the 5 Big Question survey and the following study were analysed. In her speech, Kate said many believe her interest in the early years come from the fact that she has three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
However, she said, her beloved sons and daughter are only partially the reason behind this study and her 10-year-long interest in the early years and the impact they have on children’s development.
Stating George, Charlotte and Louis are why she has launched this research, Kate said, would be “selling the issue short”.
The Duchess said: “People often ask why I care so passionately about the early years.
“Many mistakenly believe that my interest stems from having children of my own.
“While of course I care hugely about their start in life, this ultimately sells the issue short.
Kate delivered a keynote speech during the What the UK Thinks About the Early Years forum
Kate launched the 5 Big Questions survey in January
“Parenthood isn’t a prerequisite for understanding the importance of the early years.
“If we only expect people to take an interest when they have children, we are not only too late for them, we are underestimating the huge role others can play in shaping our most formative years too.”
Understanding the early years are key to the development of children and have an impact for the following 50 years of their lives is crucial to everyone, no matter whether they are parents or not, Kate said, as today’s children will be the adults who shape tomorrow’s future.
She added: “Early years are not about how we raise our children but how we raise generations of adults, which is why I wanted to start a conversation.”
READ MORE: Kate Middleton will be shown in ‘new light’ with ‘passionate’ speech
Kate and Prince William have three children
This virtual event was also attended by researchers and experts and wanted to be the starting point for the Royal Foundation to hold and back programmes and initiatives focused on supporting parents, children and their development in their early years.
During the event, the Duchess and experts came together to discuss the five big insights emerged as a result of the 5 Big Questions study as well as answer questions from the public.
This landmark study began on January 21, when Kate launched the 5 Big Question survey.
After launching the survey in January, the Duchess toured the UK to raise awareness on the importance of the first five years in the life of a child for their development as well as invite people to take part in the nationwide poll.
DON’T MISS
Kate toured the UK to promote the survey between January and February
Key themes emerged from the research carried out by the Royal Foundation
The survey, closed in February, was developed with the Royal Foundation and carried out by Ipsos MORI.
The brief poll asked five questions on how people of all age see early childhood and was taken by more than half a million individuals across the country.
Kelly Beaver, the Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos MORI who also took part to the forum, commented the outstanding amount of answers received saying: “Ipsos MORI has been conducting research with the public in the UK for over 50 years, and we have never seen a response like we did when the 5 Big Questions was launched.”
The findings, which combined the answers given with experts’ opinions, observational research and in depth interview with parents, were unveiled yesterday.
Following the coronavirus outbreak, Ipsos MORI and the Royal Foundation also surveyed parents about the impact COVID-19 has had on their support network and mental health.
Among the sticking issues found in the study by Kate and experts, there were the acknowledgement nurture is essential to lifelong outcomes as well as the impact of the mental wellbeing of parents in the development of their children.
Kate and Prince William married in 2011
Sharing the first insight, Kate said yesterday in a brief video: “98 percent of you said that that nurture is essential to lifelong outcomes.
“But, just one in four recognise the specific importance of the first five years of a child’s life.”
Speaking more in depth about the second insight, Kensington Palace wrote on Twitter earlier today: “90 percent of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as being critical to a child’s development.
“However, only 10 percent of parents mentioned taking the time to look after their own wellbeing when asked how they had prepared for the arrival of their baby”.
Kate unveiled the findings of the research yesterday
Feeling judged was also another issue that emerged from the study.
The third insight shared by Kensington Palace read: “Feeling judged by others can make a bad situation worse.
“70 percent of parents feel judged by others and among these parents, nearly half feel this negatively impacts their mental health.”
As it emerged during the forum, judgement can impact parents’ mental health as well as their willingness to ask for help.
The survey also showed the fragility of many parents’ support network.
The success of the project, with its survey becoming the country’s biggest analysis of what its population think of the early years of childhood, has been called a “milestone moment” for the Duchess by Kensington Palace.