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Gearing up for National Children's Day
By: Karnjana Karnjanatawe

Bangkok Post

This Saturday is Children's Day in Thailand and, as usual, many public- and private-sector organisations will be hosting special events for youngsters.


Solar-powered toy cars on Children’s Day 2008 at the Bangkok Planetarium. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

Government House on Phitsanulok Road is always one of the more popular venues, with children lining up for the chance to sit in the prime minister's chair. The parliament building on Uthong Road is another place where youngsters are welcome and throngs of future voters will be found exploring the House of Representatives, the adjoining museum and special exhibitions put on to educate them about democracy, the concept of sufficiency economy pioneered by HM the King, and global warming.
The Office of the Secretariat to the Parliament will be giving away cotton bags and books to young visitors on the day, from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

At Children's Day events which the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be hosting at the National Stadium on Rama I Road and at Wachirabenchatat Park (aka Suan Rod Fai) on Kamphaeng Phet Road, the focus will be on games and other outdoor activities designed both to entertain and to foster a love of reading. Several traditional plays will also be staged.

If science is more up your alley, then take your offspring to the Sirindhorn Science Home at the Thailand Science Park on Phahon Yothin Road in Pathum Thani province. Games, shows and interactive activities designed to interest children in matters scientific will be organised there on January 8 and 9, from 9am to 4pm. There will be demonstrations of four-legged robots in action, a quiz on nano-technology, exhibitions on chemistry, IT, the environment and biotechnology plus a walk rally and screenings of sci-fi movies.

If you're not free on those dates, another interesting option is the programme for kids at the Bangkok Planetarium on January 10. Between 9am and 4:30pm, there will be exhibitions, games, shows and films at the Sukhumvit Road site plus other activities related to science, space exploration, astronomy and the environment.

For those living outside Bangkok, the Royal Thai Navy is hosting Children's Day celebrations in Ko Kud, Ko Mak, Khao Lan, Ko Samet and Sattahip. The kids will be able to tour several large warships and there will also be organised games plus musical performances put on by naval personnel. The RTN is currently accepting donations of suitable gifts for distribution to children on the day; phone 02-475-5733 for details.

Down in Phuket the Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) will be hosting Children's Day activities in the town hall, including an exhibition, shows, contests, games and various educational activities (how to make cards, draw pictures, create batik patterns and make small bags of pot-pourri.

Lastly, the Chon Buri PAO will be hosting Children's Day activities on Saturday at the town hall there. The focus will be caring for the environment, communication technology and the concept of sufficiency economy pioneered by HM the King. There will also be demonstrations of traditional Thai games, quiz shows and the distribution of some 30,000 gifts for young visitors throughout the day.

This year's inspirational motto for children, as composed by our new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, is:
"Chalad kit jit borisut jut prakai fan phukphanrak samakkhi"
(Think smart; have a pure mind; inspire dreams; and be united).