Playful Kate takes a break on mission to help under-5s
THE Duchess of Cambridge has embarked on a 24-hour tour of the country to launch a landmark survey in pursuit of her mission to improve the life chances of every child.
She kicked off her tour at MiniBrum – a child-sized city at Birmingham’s science museum Thinktank.
She could not help laughing while trying to fix a wonky cupboard door as she played with children yesterday.
She giggled as she told the children and their parents: “I think we’ve broken the cafe!”
Her visit kicked off her mini-tour around the UK.
Today the royal mum of three, 38, will go to London, Cardiff and Surrey as she launches a UK-wide survey on how the lives of the youngest can be helped.
She told families at the museum: “The early years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime.
“I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most.”
The online poll, called Five Big Questions on the Under Fives, will run for a month.
Kate has made it her life’s ambition to help create a fairer start for all children, regardless of their social background. She has previously concluded that many of the toughest social challenges facing society can often be traced back to experiences in early years.
Yesterday she was shown around by children from Henley Montessori School and St Paul’s Nursery in Balsall Heath, Birmingham,
She also met parents including Giovanna Fletcher, whose podcast “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” is aimed at ensuring new mothers do not feel alone.The group sat down together to discuss issues surrounding parenthood and the role that local communities can play.
Kate said: “What we experience between the ages of 0 to 5 shapes the developing brain.They help us avoid adversity, or certainly build resilience to adversity in later life and prevent challenges with mental health later down the line.
“As a mother, it has given me a different perspective.
“There’s so much pressure on parents to feel the responsibility is just down to them, but actually it’s important to work together as a community.”
● The poll, commissioned by the Royal Foundation and conducted by Ipsos Mori, is at www.5bigquestions.org.uk