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Kate Middleton launches new early years project as research reveals just 1 in 3 children spend time in nature every day

Kate Middleton launches new early years project as research reveals just 1 in 3 children spend time in nature every day

The Princess of Wales is exploring how outdoor play and nature could help babies and young children develop vital life skills.

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: October 16, 2026 at 3:54 PM

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The Princess of Wales has announced a new project exploring how spending time in nature could help babies and young children develop the emotional and social skills they need to thrive. And new research suggests it's something many parents already feel strongly about.

During a visit to Cornwall on 16 October, Kate Middleton revealed that The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood will be investigating how nature-rich environments, combined with nurturing relationships, can support children's development during their earliest years.

The announcement comes alongside new polling that found 84% of parents believe spending time in nature benefits their child's wellbeing and development, yet only 33% say their child gets to experience nature every day.

Why is Kate Middleton focusing on nature and young children?

The Princess of Wales has long championed the importance of the first five years of a child's life, particularly how early experiences and relationships shape emotional wellbeing, confidence and social skills.

Her latest project, developed by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood with the Duchy of Cornwall as a founding partner, will explore how access to nature could play a bigger role in supporting those crucial early years.

The research will bring together academics, early years practitioners, charities and environmental organisations to investigate how outdoor environments can help children develop skills such as managing emotions, building relationships, communicating and exploring the world around them.

Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, explained that the project could help shape the future of early childhood development.

There is a real opportunity here to shape the future of early years development, and this project will bring together evidence, expertise and practical experience from around the UK and the world, to better understand how nature-rich environments can help nurture confident, curious, creative and emotionally healthy children.

Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Only 1 in 3 children spend time in nature every day, despite parents wanting more

For parents juggling nursery runs, work, childcare and everything else that comes with family life, finding time to get outdoors isn't always easy.

But the Centre's new polling highlights a striking gap between what parents want for their children and what happens in everyday life.

84% of parents believe spending time in nature supports their child's wellbeing and development.
Just 33% say their child spends time in nature every day.
Most parents would like their children to spend more time in nature and have greater access to nature-based experiences through childcare and education.

The findings suggest that while parents recognise the potential benefits of outdoor experiences, making them a regular part of childhood isn't always straightforward.

How can spending time in nature help children's development?

Outdoor play is often associated with physical activity, fresh air and burning off energy before bedtime. But researchers are increasingly interested in what nature could mean for children's emotional and social development, too.

Dr Nicola Kemp, Director of Insight and Impact at The Froebel Trust, says evidence is growing around the benefits of regular contact with nature.

A growing body of evidence shows that regular contact with nature can support children’s development in many ways, helping to foster curiosity, creativity, emotional wellbeing and social connection. Childhood provides a particularly important opportunity to develop these connections.

Dr Nicola Kemp, Director of Insight and Impact at The Froebel Trust

The new project will look more closely at how nature-based experiences, alongside positive relationships with adults and other children, can support these skills from the very beginning of life.

What does this mean for parents of babies and young children?

Although the project is still in its early stages, its focus is relevant to families with children of all ages, including babies and toddlers.

And spending time in nature doesn't necessarily have to mean a big family day out or a trip to the countryside.

For families looking to make outdoor experiences part of everyday life, simple activities could include:

Exploring a local park: Letting toddlers investigate leaves, trees and different textures at their own pace.
Taking sensory walks: Helping babies notice birdsong, moving leaves and the sights and sounds around them.
Getting creative outdoors: Collecting fallen leaves, spotting colours or making pictures with natural materials.
Making time for unstructured play: Giving young children opportunities to explore, imagine and discover with a trusted adult nearby.

These are accessible ways to introduce children to nature, rather than specific recommendations arising from the new research.

What happens next?

The project builds on the Princess's previous work exploring early childhood development, including visits to Denmark and Reggio Emilia in Italy, where she met educators and researchers investigating innovative approaches to children's learning.

The Centre for Early Childhood will now work with specialists across early years education, child development and environmental science to better understand how nature-based experiences could become a more meaningful part of children's everyday lives.

Further details of the project are expected to be announced in due course.

For parents, the message behind the research is an encouraging one: nature could have an important role to play in helping children grow into confident, curious and emotionally healthy individuals, and understanding how best to support that connection starts in the earliest years.

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Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.