Parents urged to celebrate with books

Reading will boost young minds and strengthen family ties, seminar told

Parents should give books to their children on the coming National Children's Day to stimulate their imagination and strengthen family ties, Dr Wilasinee Adulyanon said at a seminar yesterday.

Wilasinee heads the Thai Health Promotion Foundation's Social Communication and Campaign Section.

The seminar on gifts for National Children's Day was held under the joint collaboration of the foundation, the Office of the Educational Council, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Non-Formal Education Office. National Children's Day falls on the second Saturday of January each year.

Wilasinee said the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) suggested each household should have at least three books for small children if the family had children under five years of age.

"But in Thailand, less than half of families have at least three books," she pointed out.

Wilasinee said the number of books for small children in Thailand's market was limited and she urged all agencies to help solve the problem.

Assoc Prof Thiranan Anawatsiriwong, a lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, said the country needed to seriously review books available for children in the market.

"Most children's books are now translations. Artistic books and constructive books are disappearing from bookshelves. There are hardly any books that preach non-violence these days," he said.

Acting Government Spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn, meanwhile, announced many activities would be held to mark the National Children's Day at Government House between 8.30am and 3.30pm on Saturday.

They include a tour around Government House, an opportunity to sit on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's desk, games, drawing contests, and handwriting contests.

Free ice-cream, drinks, and free haircut will be provided.

Abhisit will also meet with students' and youth representatives to answer their questions. The sessions will be broadcast live via a teleconferencing system.

Abhisit has made, "Be Prudent, Be Thoughtful, and Be Public-Minded" the motto for this year's National Children's Day.