By Emily Ferguson,Nicola Croal
Copyright dailyrecord
Kate Middleton has warned that too much screen time is resulting in an “epidemic of disconnection” that disrupts family life. In an essay, co-authored with Professor Robert Waldinger from Harvard Medical School, the Princess of Wales states that “we’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us”. She says that smartphones and computer screens have become a “constant distraction” in our lives, and are fuelling the epidemic of loneliness. The royal is instead urging people to “look people in the eye and be fully there”, explaining that “this is our children’s greatest inheritance”. The essay, titled ‘The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World’, explains why meaningful relationships are the single greatest investment we can make as humans for health, happiness and longevity. The 43-year-old highlights the science that shows how social and emotional skills developed in the earliest years shape lifelong wellbeing. Kate, who has long advocated for the importance of social and emotional development in early childhood, has warned that modern life is preventing people from forming meaningful connections, putting at risk the social and emotional development of babies and young children, the Express reports. In the personal essay, the authors talk in depth about the rise of loneliness, especially among young people, and warn that the digital age is partly to blame. She writes: “While new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection. “While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite. Join the Daily Record’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. “Our smartphones, tablets, and computers have become sources of constant distraction, fragmenting our focus and preventing us from giving others the undivided attention that relationships require. “We sit together in the same room while our minds are scattered across dozens of apps, notifications, and feeds. We’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us.” “By being distracted, whether it’s scrolling on our phones or responding to emails during family dinners, Kate warns ‘we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires’. Concluding the essay, Kate urges people to “look people in the eye and be fully there”, explaining that “this is our children’s greatest inheritance”. Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here . She adds: “The evidence is clear: if you could invest in just one thing to help you and your family thrive, invest in the relationships you have with each other. “This is not just about creating a more loving environment for our children. It’s about creating a more loving world. And that begins with a simple, deliberate act. “Look the people you care about in the eye and be fully there – because that is where love begins. “For babies and children who are raised in attentive and loving environments are better able to develop the social and emotional skills that will allow them to grow into adults capable of building loving partnerships, families, communities. This is our children’s greatest inheritance.”