6th August 2025
iHV is proud to be working with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood as an early adopter of their new resources — six beautifully animated films that bring to life the science of early brain development.
These short films explain how everyday interactions between babies, young children and caring adults can support healthy social and emotional development. They unpack the brain science and explain key concepts behind the way nurturing interactions support the social and emotional development of babies and young children. They explain the science behind the everyday moments of connection that can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life.
Building on the Shaping Us Framework, the animations and associated resources aim to help practitioners understand more about WHAT supports social and emotional development, and HOW they could promote better outcomes for babies and young children.
The films are designed to be used by people who work with babies, children and families, so that they are better equipped to have meaningful and consistent conversations with parents and carers about social and emotional development. The films are accompanied by practitioner guidance and science briefings.
Hilda Beauchamp, iHV Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Lead, said:
“The Institute of Health Visiting is planning to include the animations as part of our SEEN project, funded and supported by Kindred2. This is a project that aims to further equip health visiting teams in promoting babies’ brain development in their conversations with parents and carers. The iHV is engaged in robust co-development with parents and health visiting teams to shape a new e-learning programme and additional resources. This will ensure health visiting teams are confident and competent to apply their knowledge in their everyday work alongside families.”
Working together with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, we can promote nurturing relationships and give every child the best start in life.
About The Centre for Early Childhood Explainer Series of films
The short animated films were developed because they are creative, accessible and engaging and can be used in a range of different ways with varied audiences – from showing the films to a parent 1:1, to embedding them in professional lectures or online training, to using them to aid discussions in team meetings.
The films were co-produced – the topics of the films were decided after iterative discussions with expert advisors and professional leaders. The Centre for Early Childhood then worked with a group of leading early childhood practitioners from around the UK to develop the scripts, which were reviewed by academic experts. The scripts were sent to talented illustrators and animators from around the world, who worked their creative magic.
There are six films in the Explainer Series, which show how everyday actions support the development of children in their earliest years. The films are also available in Welsh and with British Sign Language.
Each animation explores a different concept from the Shaping Us Framework:
- How we grow an emotionally healthy brain – This film explains describes the rapid development that happens in early childhood
- Noticing and navigating feelings – This film unpacks a concept called attunement.
- Managing big feelings together – This film explains a concept called co-regulation.
- Back and forth interactions – This film unpacks a concept called contingent responsiveness (also known as serve and return).
- Supporting their learning – This film explains a concept called scaffolding.
- Creating space for connection – This film explains a concept called pacing.
Practitioner guidance – Using the Centre for Early Childhood’s Explainers to support families is also available here.
