The Princess of Wales has released a new personal essay, written in collaboration with Harvard Professor Robert Waldinger, on the importance of human connection in the early years of children’s lives. In the essay, the Princess points to research which shows the risks of being distracted by technology and the impact it can have on our interpersonal relationships within families.

‘Babies and children who are raised in attentive and loving environments,’ writes Kate, ‘are better able to develop the social and emotional skills that will allow them to grow into adults capable of building loving partnerships, families, communities.’ For every family, Kate says that ‘this is our children’s greatest inheritance.’

In the essay, the Princess explains that activities such as eating together as a family are hugely important, but are becoming less common-place. ‘For the past 70 years, we have been investing less and less in each other,’ she writes. ‘We are less likely to have dinner together as a family – something we know has an enormous impact on child development. We are less likely to have friends over. We are less likely to join clubs and community groups.’

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The consequences of this, says Kate, can be loneliness later in life, as children aren’t able to form as strong relationships in young adult life and beyond. She points out that this is a ‘toxic’ issue for 16-24 year olds at the moment and that, ‘most troubling of all, more people than ever report having no one they can confide in about what is going on in their life.’

bracknell, england september 07: prince george, princess charlotte and prince louis (c), accompanied by their parents the prince william, duke of cambridge and catherine, duchess of cambridge, arrive for a settling in afternoon at lambrook school, near ascot on september 7, 2022 in bracknell, england. the family have set up home in adelaide cottage in windsors home park as their base after the queen gave them permission to lease the four bedroom grade ii listed home. (photo by jonathan brady pool/getty images)
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The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte

While there are many benefits to technology, she says, ‘we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection. While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite.’

You can read the full essay on the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood website.