Catherine says nature can help children's emotional growth

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has unveiled an initiative that advocates the role of nature in fostering children's emotional and social growth. In today's digital era, she emphasizes the significance of spending quality time outdoors, stating, "Nature is such an extraordinary environment for us all." This project is a part of her broader campaign to elevate early years education and children's overall wellbeing.

Catherine draws inspiration from her personal journey, having found solace in nature during her cancer recovery. She believes in the holistic benefits of nature, which she has described in almost spiritual terms in her videos showcasing the changing seasons. These sentiments have now been translated into her early years project, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Her vision is to utilize the natural world to enhance children's creativity and emotional development. Potential venues for such educational excursions might be funded by the Duchy of Cornwall. Catherine describes the project as an exploration of how nature, creativity, and relationships can best support the healthy development of young children.

"I 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," she emphasizes. Catherine is hopeful that this nature-based research could lead to the creation of supportive environments that make nature more accessible for babies, young children, and their families across the UK.

The project is still in its exploratory phase with no funding announced yet. However, Catherine is leveraging her platform to advocate for a cause she once referred to as her "life's work." Her push for families to connect with the natural world is also a countermeasure to the "epidemic of disconnection" caused by excessive screen time and mobile phone usage.