The Duchess of Cambridge and the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood visit Denmark

The trip will allow both The Duchess and staff from The Centre to learn from a country that is widely recognised as world leading in terms of its approach and investment to early childhood development. 

During the visit, Her Royal Highness will spend time learning about how Denmark has created an enabling culture for early childhood development, specifically how it has promoted infant mental wellbeing alongside physical health, and how it harnesses the power of nature, relationships and playful learning in the first five years of life. Her programme will focus on innovative initiatives and projects which support children in their growth, particularly their social and emotional development, as well as their parents and the wider communities surrounding them. 

Throughout, The Duchess will have the opportunity to meet with a broad range of people including children and families, leading researchers, representatives from academia, and those working in the early education sector. 

This afternoon, The Duchess and staff from The Centre will visit the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project, which aims to promote the mental wellbeing of, and relationships between, children and their parents. This will be followed by a discussion with health visitors and families on the ‘Alarm Distress Baby Scale,’ a tool used nationally to identify infants who are at risk of adverse social and emotional development, and the "Understanding Your Baby" programme, which helps health visitors to develop their language and vocabulary around social and emotional development. 

Afterwards, the group will move on to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at University College Copenhagen where they will be given an insight into the way playful learning can improve essential life skills like problem solving, negotiating, adapting, and thinking strategically. 

Day two will see The Duchess take part in a number of outdoor activities at Stenurten Forest Kindergarten, a programme designed to help build children’s self-awareness, strengthen relationships with others and understand their value in society.  Lastly, before leaving, Her Royal Highness will join Crown Princess Mary of Denmark on a visit to The Danner Crisis Centre, a centre which supports women and children who have been exposed to domestic violence.