Catherine’s Royal Foundation project will investigate how outdoor experiences, creativity and relationships influence the emotional and social development of babies and young children.
The Princess of Wales has unveiled a new research project that will examine how time spent in nature may help shape the emotional and social development of babies and young children. The initiative, led by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, is intended to deepen understanding of how outdoor experiences, creativity and relationships can support wellbeing in the earliest years of life.
According to the announcement, the Duchy of Cornwall has joined the project as a founding partner, marking the first time Prince William’s estate has backed Catherine’s early childhood work in this way. The project will bring together academic evidence, professional expertise and practical experience from the UK and overseas, with the aim of identifying ways to make the benefits of nature more accessible to families.
Catherine said nature offered an especially important refuge in an increasingly digital age, and set out her belief that outdoor experiences should be treated as part of a wider picture of healthy child development. In a statement, she said: “Nature is such an extraordinary environment for us all and, in this tech-driven, digital age, spending quality time outdoors has never been more important.” She added: “This project is about exploring how nature, creativity and relationships can best support the healthy development of babies and young children.”
The new work builds on the Princess’s long-running focus on the first five years of life, a period she has repeatedly described as critical to long-term wellbeing. The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has already supported related research, including a 2023 field study with health visitors that looked at infant wellbeing and social and emotional development. Christian Guy, the centre’s executive director, said the latest initiative could help strengthen understanding of how nature nurtures curiosity, creativity and emotional health.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
