Loads of fun for kids and adults

National Children’s Day, held on the second Saturday in January since 1965, this year fell on January 13. In Pattaya, the community came out in full force to help the kids celebrate.

I’m happy. This is my day.

Every sub-district prepared various types of entertainment for the festivities. Many passed out presents, cooked up food and supplied beverages. Trainees from the Bang Lamung Vocational School even provided free hair care for children.

Local businesses, such as the Alcazar Show, Tiffany’s, the Million Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, and organizations like the Pattaya - Pratamnak Lions Club also created fun things for the children to do.

The Alcazar Show in Pattaya supports Children’s Day each year and this year’s entertainment included students in primary grades presenting on-stage performances.

Mmmm! Ice cream

Drawing contests, food, musical performances, more food, fun games and activities, and even more food were the order of the day. Many of the activities arranged for the children were both fun and educational, and were aimed at developing healthy social values in the community. The theme of this year’s event had to do with “realizing the importance of properly guiding children in today’s society”.

Pattaya municipal police and the Banglamung police stations also joined in the fun, arranging games and activities, giving away educational materials and providing, you guessed it, food and drinks.

Trainees from the Bang Lamung Vocational School provided free hair care for children, which, as can be seen here, wasn’t always fully appreciated at the time by the children getting the haircuts.

Thailand’s first Children’s Day was held in 1955, and was held in October each year until 1963 when it was moved to the second Saturday in January, which became official in 1965. It has been commemorated each year since.

The fun and games at Tiffany’s included drawing contests, prizes, food and beverages.

Top levels of government recognize the day as a way to “reinforce the support required to properly raise young children into responsible adults by nurturing, educating and directing children’s interest into socially accepted behavior.”

The fastest way to make kids happy is often through good food, such as what the Pattaya - Pratamnak Lions Club provided.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai addressed the nation on National Children’s Day, specifying “the importance of inspiring children to learn and teaching children to understand the virtues of democracy.”

Thai Rak Thai Party leader Pol. Lt. Col. Doctor Thaksin Shinawatra also addressed Children’s Day, and focused on “studying for fun and playing for knowledge, setting sights on a good future.”