Kate Middleton and Prince Louis at the Big Help Out in May.Photo:Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty
Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty
Kate MiddletonsaysPrince Louisis learning to express himself with a cool tool.
The Princess of Wales, 41, revealed that her 5-year-old son and his classmates are using a “feelings wheel” at school to help them describe their emotions. Princess Kate shared the update while making her way into theShaping Us National Symposiumat The Design Museum in London on Wednesday morning, where she delivered the keynote speech.
“Louis’ class, they came back with a feelings wheel — it’s really good. These are 5 or 6-year-olds and going with names or pictures of a color that represents how they feel that day, so there is a real keenness in school particularly to get involved in conversations,” said Princess Kate, who also shares childrenPrince George, 10, andPrincess Charlotte, 8, with husbandPrince William. The three siblings attend the Lambrook School in the Berkshire countryside, not far from the family’s home in Windsor.
“It’s actually helping continuity across the board and then how does that feed into you, with your mental health — it’s same conversation, so to be able to find a bit of framework to talk about this, is very important,” she continued.
The Princess of Wales then said she was ready for her key speech — but admitted to some jitters!
When Cotton asked how she was feeling ahead of the address, Kate replied, “Good but nervous, but excited too.”
Kate Middleton chats with Fearne Cotton as she arrives for the Shaping Us National Symposium in London on November 15.Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images
“So nice to see it all coming together and different people along with it,” she added. “All of us are still learning and sharing experiences with each other.”
Princess Kate proceeded to deliver the keynote at the inaugural symposium from herShaping Uscampaign, which she launched in January under the umbrella of theRoyal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The conference brought together cross-disciplinary leaders, child and adult specialists, and global thinkers for a day of conversation on the scientific, economic and human cases for prioritizing the early childhood years.
The Shaping Us campaign aims to “increase public understanding of the crucial importance of the first five years of a child’s life” and bring scientific interest into “one of the most strategically important topics of our time,” according to theRoyal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Katecreated the centerwithin her andPrince William’s largerRoyal Foundationin June 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of the first five years of life and advance outcomes for a brighter society.
Pushing the cause forward, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood instituted new research involving 21 countries around the world. It also marked the Princess of Wales’ first time working with global leaders in this lane and is her “signaling” that she wants this to be worldwide, those close to her say.
Gracing the stage at the symposium, Princess Kate began, “People often ask me why I focus my time on early childhood. The answer is because I care deeply about making a positive difference, in helping the most vulnerable and supporting those who are most in need.”
Kate Middleton speaks on stage at the Shaping Us National Symposium on November 15.Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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“We must do more than simply meet the short-term needs of these individuals. We must also look at creating long-term, preventative change. And that takes us right back to the beginning.”
As the Shaping Us campaign kicked off in January, a spokesman told PEOPLE that her childhood work “will be a golden thread throughout [Kate’s] working life.”
Kate Middleton at the Shaping Us National Symposium on November 15.Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images
And her experience and passion for the field are appreciated around the world. Prof. Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, metKate last Decemberwhen she and Prince William were in Boston for the Earthshot Prize and told PEOPLE at the time that the princess"has obviously thought about this a lot.”
“I see her as very motivated in having an impact on the world. She is personally an understated person, there was no sense of an ego in the room. You really get a sense that she understands the power of her platform and has a desire to do good and make a difference,” said Shonkoff, who was a speaker at the symposium.
source: people.com
