The Princess of Wales has launched a research initiative that seeks to move the case for outdoor childhood beyond broad encouragement and into practical early-years programmes. The project will examine whether nature, creativity and supportive relationships can help babies and young children develop social and emotional skills.

Catherine frames the work as a response to a digital age in which outdoor time can be harder to protect. “New scientific research increasingly shows just how important nature is for our psychological and physiological wellbeing,” she said, adding that spending quality time outdoors “has never been more important.”¹

Her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, supported by the Duchy of Cornwall, will assemble research, professional expertise and practical experience from the UK and abroad. Its stated aim is to understand how nature-rich settings can nurture children who are “confident, curious, creative and emotionally healthy.”²

The case for action is reinforced by polling commissioned by the centre: 84% of parents said nature helps their child’s wellbeing and development, but only 33% said their child spends time in nature every day. The findings also showed majorities wanted more outdoor time overall and more nature-based experiences in childcare and education.³

WWF broadly welcomed the initiative but focused on unequal access rather than simply encouraging families to go outside. Holly McKinlay, the organisation’s director of brand and engagement, said the evidence showed that nature can improve children’s “wellbeing, confidence and learning,” while warning that “many children face barriers to spending time outdoors.”⁴

That distinction is central to the project’s next stage. Catherine’s appeal is for a whole-child approach; WWF’s response stresses delivery through schools and support for children with the fewest opportunities. Both perspectives converge on nature as beneficial, while the research is intended to test how those benefits can be made more consistently available before a wider programme is launched next year.