Latest news with #InfantMentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Steps Up for Preschoolers in Powerful New Move for Kids
Kate Middleton's Centre for Early Childhood announced a major new pilot to help put mental health support into preschools The early years are a crucial part of the Princess of Wales' public life, and she sees it as something she will continue with for decades to come The new initiative is being spearheaded by two leading British children's charitiesKate Middleton's mission to help support youngsters has taken a major step. Amid Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, the Princess of Wales' foundation announced that it is providing mental health services across an underprivileged part of London. In a groundbreaking new pilot, mental health workers will provide training and consultation to staff and families to support the social and emotional development of babies and young children in two early education settings in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. It will see around 150 babies, young children and their families supported over the year-long pilot. "Happy Little Minds" is being spearheaded by two leading children's charities in Britain, Barnardo's and Place2Be (of which Kate is the patron). The non-profits will provide bespoke training and consultation about social and emotional development to around 50 early education practitioners at two nursery schools, classrooms that typically cater to children aged 3 and 4, in the two boroughs. They will also provide help for parents and carers, working directly with some children and families. It is Princess Kate's lasting and ongoing mission to underscore the importance of social and emotional development for enabling babies and young children to be mentally healthy, both in the short term and in order to provide long-lasting impact for their lives. The royal mom of three is helping spread the message that the span from infancy to 5 years old is the most crucial in terms of brain development and the foundations are laid for all that is to follow. Often, mental health problems in later life have their roots in early childhood and early intervention with babies, and Princess Kate set up the Centre for Early Childhood to funnel this work. Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said in a statement, 'Early education and childcare settings can play such an important and influential role in supporting children and their families at such a vital time, in all sorts of ways." 'If settings are well-supported to promote social and emotional development in babies and young children, there is huge potential to positively impact all children, and for early intervention and prevention of future mental health conditions in those most at risk, which could be truly transformational both for individuals and society," he said. 'Place2Be and Barnardo's have such a wealth of experience to offer, and this pilot is an important step forward in understanding more about how this can be delivered to best effect," Guy added. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The idea for the new initiative started at the Shaping Us National Symposium in November 2023, when an infant mental health expert from Barnardo's had a discussion with Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of Place2Be. The pair then developed the idea and approached the Foundation for funding. Part of the package given to staff will be The Centre for Early Childhood's The Shaping Us Framework, which she launched in February, which is aimed at improving awareness of and knowledge about social and emotional skills to inspire action across society. In 2023, it funded a trial of an observation tool for health visitors, known internationally as the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB). In May, Princess Kate's bid to extend the initiative into the business world also bore fruit. A collection of major companies, from NatWest Bank to IKEA and the Co-op, showed how they are rolling out programs designed to better support parents and help children thrive, such as increasing paternity leave. Read the original article on People
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
What is Happy Little Minds? All about Kate Middleton's mental health program for kids
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has announced a pilot program as part of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The project, called 'Happy Little Minds,' aims to support the emotional and social development of preschoolers in the underprivileged parts of London. The pilot program was announced amid Infant Mental Health Awareness Week. Kate Middleton's new project underscores how she has long championed the importance of social and emotional development in toddlers and young children, a post on the Centre for Early Childhood's website stated. The initiative marks a collaboration between leading children's charities Barnardo's and Place2Be, which is one of the key charities supported by Kate Middleton. Under the Happy Little Minds pilot program, mental health practitioners will provide bespoke training and ongoing consultation for almost 50 early education practitioners. The training will be related to emotional and social development. Two nurseries in Tower Hamlets and Hackney have been chosen for the program. The mental health practitioners will also provide parents with guidance. They will work directly with some families. Around 150 babies, young children and their families are expected to benefit from the pilot. The initiative starts in June and will take place for 12 months. The Centre for Early Childhood published The Shaping Us Framework earlier this year. The document aimed at increasing awareness of and knowledge about social and emotional skills to inspire society to action. The initiative was part of the Princess of Wales' efforts to create a happier, healthier society, the centre's official website states. Christian Guy, the Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said, 'If settings are well-supported to promote social and emotional development in babies and young children, there is huge potential to positively impact all children, and for early intervention and prevention of future mental health conditions in those most at risk, which could be truly transformational both for individuals and society.' The Shaping Us National Symposium in November 2023 was the starting point for the initiative. Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of Place2Be, held a discussion with an infant mental health expert from Barnardo's about the idea. They then approached the Royal Foundation for funding. The foundation bankrolled a trial for an observation tool known as the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) in 2023 to help families better understand how babies express their feelings. Following positive results from phase one, the tool was expanded to eight National Health Service sites. The pilot will run till 2026. Also read: Kate Middleton apologises to Prince William after winning yacht race in resurfaced video. Watch In May, the Princess of Wales dropped a video on Instagram during Mental Health Awareness Week to talk about 'humanity's longstanding connection to nature.' The video featured Kate Middleton and her husband, Prince William, enjoying the outdoors. Take a look at the post here: A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales) The post came as Kate Middleton resumed her royal duties following her battle with cancer. It is an initiative launched by Kate Middleton's Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. She is now in remission. It is one of the leading children's charities supported by Kate Middleton.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Steps Up for Preschoolers in Powerful New Move for Kids
Kate Middleton's Centre for Early Childhood announced a major new pilot to help put mental health support into preschools The early years are a crucial part of the Princess of Wales' public life, and she sees it as something she will continue with for decades to come The new initiative is being spearheaded by two leading British children's charitiesKate Middleton's mission to help support youngsters has taken a major step. Amid Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, the Princess of Wales' foundation announced that it is providing mental health services across an underprivileged part of London. In a groundbreaking new pilot, mental health workers will provide training and consultation to staff and families to support the social and emotional development of babies and young children in two early education settings in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. It will see around 150 babies, young children and their families supported over the year-long pilot. "Happy Little Minds" is being spearheaded by two leading children's charities in Britain, Barnardo's and Place2Be (of which Kate is the patron). The non-profits will provide bespoke training and consultation about social and emotional development to around 50 early education practitioners at two nursery schools, classrooms that typically cater to children aged 3 and 4, in the two boroughs. They will also provide help for parents and carers, working directly with some children and families. It is Princess Kate's lasting and ongoing mission to underscore the importance of social and emotional development for enabling babies and young children to be mentally healthy, both in the short term and in order to provide long-lasting impact for their lives. The royal mom of three is helping spread the message that the span from infancy to 5 years old is the most crucial in terms of brain development and the foundations are laid for all that is to follow. Often, mental health problems in later life have their roots in early childhood and early intervention with babies, and Princess Kate set up the Centre for Early Childhood to funnel this work. Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said in a statement, 'Early education and childcare settings can play such an important and influential role in supporting children and their families at such a vital time, in all sorts of ways." 'If settings are well-supported to promote social and emotional development in babies and young children, there is huge potential to positively impact all children, and for early intervention and prevention of future mental health conditions in those most at risk, which could be truly transformational both for individuals and society," he said. 'Place2Be and Barnardo's have such a wealth of experience to offer, and this pilot is an important step forward in understanding more about how this can be delivered to best effect," Guy added. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The idea for the new initiative started at the Shaping Us National Symposium in November 2023, when an infant mental health expert from Barnardo's had a discussion with Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of Place2Be. The pair then developed the idea and approached the Foundation for funding. Part of the package given to staff will be The Centre for Early Childhood's The Shaping Us Framework, which she launched in February, which is aimed at improving awareness of and knowledge about social and emotional skills to inspire action across society. In 2023, it funded a trial of an observation tool for health visitors, known internationally as the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB). In May, Princess Kate's bid to extend the initiative into the business world also bore fruit. A collection of major companies, from NatWest Bank to IKEA and the Co-op, showed how they are rolling out programs designed to better support parents and help children thrive, such as increasing paternity leave. Read the original article on People
