Early Years welcomes the #5BigInsights from the Duchess of Cambridge
Early Years was delighted to support and participate in the Duchess of Cambridge and The Royal Foundation #5BigQuestions on the under 5s in February 2020. We welcome the reveal of the #5BigInsights released today and we are looking forward to the ambitious plans for 2021.
We believe we all have a critical role in shaping the future for generations and this begins with supporting our most formative years – the early years.
The 5 Big Insights
1. PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THAT A CHILD’S FUTURE IS NOT PRE-DETERMINED AT BIRTH. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFIC IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY YEARS.
Answering the 5 Big Questions, 98% of people believe nurture is essential to lifelong outcomes, but just one in four recognise the specific importance of the first five years of a child’s life.
2. THE REALITY OF LIFE MAKES IT HARD FOR PARENTS TO PRIORITISE THEIR WELLBEING.
90% of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as being critical to a child’s development, but in reality people do very little to prioritise themselves. Only 10% of parents mentioned taking the time to look after their own wellbeing when asked how they had prepared for the arrival of their baby. Worryingly, over a third of all parents (37%) expect the COVID-19 pandemic to have a negative impact on their long-term mental wellbeing.
3. FEELING JUDGED BY OTHERS CAN MAKE A BAD SITUATION WORSE.
70% of parents feel judged by others and among these parents, nearly half feel this negatively impacts their mental health.
4. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND AT THE SAME TIME PARENTAL LONELINESS HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED. DISTURBINGLY, PEOPLE ARE ALSO LESS WILLING TO SEEK HELP FOR HOW THEY’RE FEELING.
Parental loneliness has dramatically increased during the pandemic from 38% before to 63% as parents have been cut off from friends and family. The increase in loneliness for parents is more apparent in the most deprived areas. These parents are more than twice as likely as those living in the least deprived areas to say they feel lonely often or always (13% compared with 5%). Compounding this, it seems there has been a rise in the proportion of parents who feel uncomfortable seeking help for how they are feeling from 18% before the pandemic to 34%during it.
5. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SUPPORT FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAS SUBSTANTIALY INCREASED FOR MANY – BUT NOT FOR ALL.
Across the UK, communities have united powerfully to meet the challenge of unprecedented times. 40% of parents feel that community support has grown. However, parents in the most deprived areas are less likely to have experienced this increased support (33%) than elsewhere.
These insights highlight the need to help people understand the importance of the early years and suggest that parents and carers need more support and advice to ensure good mental health and wellbeing as they raise young children.
For more information or to review the research report please visit www.royalfoundation.com
