Princess Kate urges parents to 'slow down' with pacing technique for children

Princess Kate is putting her royal weight behind a powerful parenting approach known as “pacing” in a groundbreaking new initiative set to transform early childhood development across the UK.

Earlier this week, the Princess of Wales unveiled the project, created in partnership with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021 to drive awareness and action on the critical first years of life.

The Princess was “closely involved” in shaping a series of animated short films that explore how nurturing, responsive techniques can boost the social and emotional growth of babies and young children. 

She met with early years practitioners and two of the project’s illustrators during a hands on creative workshop in June, helping to bring the vision to life.

The first film, Creating Space for Connection, urges adults to “adjust our tempo and slow down to help children process information and respond.” 

It explains that while adults operate at a fast, learned pace, applying that same speed to young children can overwhelm them, leaving little time to absorb new experiences.

“Pacing creates space and time for meaningful connection, giving the child greater opportunity to engage positively,” the narrator says, warning that a rushed approach can disorient little ones and hinder their ability to learn.

“This might look like a child freezing, crying, or appearing to ignore you or even a mix of all three,” the video explains, noting that such behaviours often signal a child is simply overwhelmed.

The technique advises something as simple as asking a question, then pausing to wait for an answer, giving a child’s brain the chance to calmly understand what’s happening before replying. 

Even lingering on a page while reading together can spark deeper engagement, the narrator says, as it allows children to absorb details that capture their interest.

The short film illustrated by Owen Gildersleeve, animated by Plastic Horse, and produced by Grand Matter forms part of the Princess’s wider campaign.