Only a quarter of people understand the importance of the early years
By Rachel Lawler
The Royal Foundation has released a new report, , which reveals the results of Five Big Questions survey, which asked members of the public for their thoughts on early childhood, alongside surveys and face-to-face research.
With more than a million respondents, the Five Big Questions survey found that just a quarter of people understand the importance of the first five years of childhood, although 98% did say that they believed that 鈥渘urture鈥 was important in the early years.
The survey also found that while 90% of people thought that parental wellbeing and mental health was 鈥渃ritical鈥 to childhood development, just 10% of parents said that they had time to look after their own mental health as part of their preparation for the arrival of the baby.
The impact of Covid-19
The survey also found that parental loneliness had increased 鈥渄ramatically鈥 during the pandemic 鈥 up from 38% to 63%.
Parents living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to feel lonely 鈥榦ften鈥 or 鈥榓lways鈥 as those in the least deprived areas.
The report calls for three main steps in response to its findings:
- further promotion of the importance of the early years to parents and wider society
- greater support for parents to improve their mental health and wellbeing
- encouraging 鈥渟ociety as a whole鈥 to be more supportive of parents/carers in the early years
Speaking at an event to mark the launch of the report, The Duchess of Cambridge commented: 鈥淧arenthood isn鈥檛 a prerequisite for understanding the importance of the early years. If we only expect people to take an interest in the early years when they have children we are not only too late for them, we are also underestimating the huge role that others can play in shaping our most formative years too.鈥
The importance of the early years
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the 王中王开奖结果, commented: "It is concerning, though unfortunately not surprising, to see that so few people are aware of the importance of the early years.
"We know that the first five years of a child's life are absolutely critical for a child's long-term life chances, and yet all too often, education and learning is seen as something that begins at the school gates.
"Throughout this pandemic, while there was much focus on ensuring children could return to schools, support and guidance for the early years - from registered providers to parent and toddler groups to health visitors - has often been far less forthcoming.
"At a time when many parents of young children have been cut off from their normal sources of help, and can only seek limited support from family and friends, it is vital that the government recognises the value of the early years and ensures that the vital services that provide such important support to parents and families across the country are able to continue to do so."
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