In a landmark initiative to elevate public understanding of early childhood development, The Princess of Wales and the Centre for Early Childhood have unveiled a compelling new film series that delves into the science of social and emotional growth in the earliest years of life.
The Science Behind the Series
Produced by the Centre for Early Childhood and supported by The Royal Foundation, the animated series is grounded in the Shaping Us Framework—a research-based model that highlights how experiences from pregnancy to age five shape lifelong well-being. The films unpack how loving, responsive relationships help children develop the emotional and social skills they’ll rely on throughout adulthood.
Accessible, Engaging, and Inclusive
The series features hand-drawn linework and papercraft animation, designed to make complex concepts feel approachable and engaging. It’s available in Welsh and British Sign Language, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. Each film is accompanied by supporting resources tailored for professionals and volunteers working with families, helping guide meaningful conversations with parents and carers.
Sector-Wide Collaboration
The Princess of Wales played an active role in shaping the series, working alongside early years practitioners and illustrators from around the globe. Already, more than 25 organisations have adopted the films to support their work with children and families, signaling strong sector-wide endorsement.
A Vision for a Healthier Society
This initiative is more than just a media campaign—it’s a strategic push to deepen public understanding of early childhood development and foster a healthier, happier society for future generations. By translating scientific insights into accessible storytelling, the series empowers educators, carers, and communities to prioritize the emotional wellbeing of young children.
The film series launched by The Princess of Wales and the Centre for Early Childhood has strong relevance to the Australian early childhood sector, particularly in the context of advocacy, educator well-being, and child development priorities. Here’s how it links to Australia:
Relevance to the Australian Early Childhood Sector
Shared Developmental Science
-
The series is grounded in the Shaping Us Framework, which aligns with developmental principles recognized in Australian early childhood education—such as those embedded in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS).
-
It emphasizes responsive relationships, emotional regulation, and early brain development—core themes in Australian pedagogy and safeguarding policy.
Professional Learning & Parent Engagement
- The films are designed for educators and volunteers, with resources that support conversations with families—a model that mirrors Australia's emphasis on family partnerships and community engagement in early learning settings.
- Services in Australia could adapt these tools to enhance staff training, parent workshops, or transition-to-school programs.
Global Collaboration & Sector Inspiration
- The Centre for Early Childhood collaborated with practitioners worldwide, offering Australian educators a chance to benchmark practices, share insights, and co-adapt resources for local use.
- The initiative also reinforces the value of sector-wide campaigns—something Australian advocates like yourself are actively driving through petitions, policy proposals, and peer resource sharing.
Policy Influence & Advocacy Messaging
- The Princess of Wales’s involvement elevates early childhood to a national policy priority in the UK. This can be a powerful reference point for Australian advocates pushing for greater investment, regulatory reform, and public awareness.
- The series could be cited in briefings to policymakers, used in sector newsletters, or referenced in campaign messaging to highlight international momentum.
Links To The EYLF and NQS
Here’s how the new film series launched by The Princess of Wales and the Centre for Early Childhood aligns with key elements of EYLF and the NQS:
Alignment with EYLF
| EYLF Learning Outcome | Link to Film Series |
|---|---|
| Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity | The series emphasizes the role of loving, responsive relationships in helping children feel safe, valued, and confident—key to developing identity. |
| Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing | It explores how early emotional development supports resilience, self-regulation, and lifelong mental health. |
| Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners | By highlighting the impact of early experiences on brain development, the films reinforce the importance of secure attachments in fostering curiosity and engagement. |
| Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators | The series supports educators in guiding emotionally attuned interactions, which are foundational for language and social communication. |
Alignment with NQS
| NQS Quality Area | Link to Film Series |
|---|---|
| QA1: Educational Program and Practice | The films offer evidence-based insights that can inform program planning, especially around social-emotional learning. |
| QA2: Children’s Health and Safety | Emphasizes the importance of emotional safety and nurturing relationships as part of holistic wellbeing. |
| QA5: Relationships with Children | Directly supports practices that build secure, respectful, and reciprocal relationships—a core NQS expectation. |
| QA6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families | Comes with resources for parent engagement, helping services strengthen partnerships and shared understanding. |
Click here to watch the complete series: Centre For Early Childhood Series
ACECQA has developed a set of free eLearning modules for educators in the early education and care sector. The National Quality Standard eLearning module provides
South Australia has become the first Australian state to implement a formal ban on mobile phones within early childhood services. The new regulation is designed
In a powerful reminder of the life-saving potential of educator vigilance, a Queensland early childhood teacher recently spotted a subtle anomaly in a child’s eye—leading
Australia’s most iconic children’s program, Play School, has teamed up with Little Scientists to bring early childhood educators a vibrant suite of STEM experiments designed
Australia is facing a significant shortage in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), leaving many families—particularly working mothers—struggling to balance employment and childcare responsibilities.
