The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has released a series of animated films supporting the social and emotional development of babies and young children.
The series builds on The Royal Foundation’s Shaping Us Framework, explaining the science behind the “everyday moments of connection that can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life”.
The films are designed to be used by people who work with babies, young children and families to allow for “meaningful and consistent” conversations with parents and carers about social and emotional development.
Illustrators and animators worked together with two leading figures in child development, Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Sam Wass, to produce the films alongside an advisory group of early childhood professionals working with families from across the UK.
The series, which has also been translated into Welsh and British Sign Language, uses different styles of illustration to help bring core concepts related to child development to life in an “accessible and engaging way”.
The topics covered in the film series are:
How we grow an emotionally-healthy brain
Noticing and navigating feelings
Managing big feelings together
Back and forth interactions
Supporting early learning
Creating space for connection
The animated film series – along with guidance for how to use them – is available here.
