Duchess Kate asks for opinions on how to best raise ‘the next generation’

Eddie Keogh-WPA Pool/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Duchess Kate is starting 2020 in a big way, going on a 24-hour tour of the U.K. as she asks residents across the country to share their thoughts on “raising the next generation.”

The mother of three, who has made early childhood development a focus of her royal work, has launched the “5 big questions on the under 5s,” a survey released by The Royal Foundation, Prince William and Kate’s charitable arm.

Kate kicked off the survey and her tour of the U.K. Tuesday with a visit to a science museum in Birmingham, England.

On Wednesday Kate traveled to Cardiff, Wales, where she visited a children’s center that encourages sensory play for babies and toddlers.

Kate’s “5 Big Questions on the Under 5s” survey “aims to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come,” according to Kensington Palace.

“Parents, carers and families are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I want to listen to them,” Kate said. “As a parent I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children.”

“I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most,” she added. “My ambition is to provide a lasting change for generations to come.”

The survey includes questions on topics like what’s most important for kids to live a happy adult life, who holds responsibility for giving kids the best shot in life and which period of a child’s life is most important for health and happiness as adults.

Kate — mom to Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1 — has focused her royal work in recent years on how important the early years of life are in childhood development.

Last year she created a “Back to Nature” garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to emphasize benefits of the outdoors on improving mental health, particularly for kids.

Kate is also patron of the Anna Freud Center, a London-based children’s mental health charity.

The Duchess of Cambridge is known for incorporating hands-on visits with kids, parents and caregivers into her royal engagements.

The duchess’ “5 big questions survey” is focused on feedback from adults age 16 and above who live in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“Whether you have children or not – there are no right or wrong answers, we want to hear what you think,” the survey states.

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