Kate Middleton Advocates Early Childhood Development For 'Healthier And Happier Society' In Op-Ed

Kate Middleton is promoting early childhood development in a new op-ed.

The Princess of Wales highlighted the importance of nurturing children in the first five years of their lives in her op-ed published Friday by The Telegraph.

"Over the past 10 years, talking to a wide range of experts about how we deal with societal issues like poor mental and physical health, I have become more and more sure of one thing: if we are going to create a healthier and happier society for future generations, we must start by understanding and acknowledging the unique importance of the first five years of life," she began.

Middleton explained that people develop core foundations during what she called "most preventative years," and these shape how they thrive as adults. She noted that the evidence to support this has "grown substantially" over the years.

"We now know that in the first five years of our lives, our brains develop faster than at any other time and that the impact of those years is hugely significant. It is the way we develop through our experiences, relationships and interactions at that very young age that shapes everything from our ability to form relationships and succeed at work, to our mental and physical health as adults," she wrote.

Middleton said that these are some of the reasons why everyone should "recognize the unique potential of early childhood and build a safe and loving world around a child."

She went on to say that "not enough is being done" and cite homelessness, violence and addiction as perpetuating poor mental health.

"We have an incredible opportunity," she wrote. "Armed with all we now know as a result of the work of dedicated scientists, researchers and practitioners, to make a huge difference to the mental and physical health of generations to come."

"That is why I am determined to continue to shine a light on this issue and to do everything I can to secure much greater focus on those first crucial few years for the youngest members of our society - they are, after all, our future," Middleton concluded.

Middleton has long been an advocate for mental health, helping children specifically through her nonprofit Place2Be. She also helped provide mental health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide support to frontline workers.

As part of her work on early childhood development, Middleton visited Denmark earlier this year. She met and learned from world-leading researchers running the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project, which "aims to promote the mental well-being of parents and their children - and the relationship between them."

Months before her royal visit to Denmark, the Princess of Wales announced on Instagram that she chose the country because "Denmark is a beacon of best practice in its approach to the early years which values the roles of parents."