Angelyn Paradises

The National Children's Day is celebrated every year on the second Saturday of January. However, initially it was celebrated on the first Monday of October. From 1955 to 1963, the children's day was celebrated in the month of October. Later in 1963, day was moved to January.

Children are the assets of any country. They are the future generation. Childhood is about innocence and playfulness, joy and freedom. But today's education system does not take care of all these aspects. The teachers concentrate mainly on the studies, and studies alone. Children are not at all permitted to play and studies are considered to be the most important part of any child's life. Children's Day is a day for children and on this day children are permitted to do whatever they like.

Children's Day is about giving children the right to enjoy and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country who have an equal mix of studies and play. Thailand uses Children's Day as an opportunity to teach children about moral values so that they grow up into responsible adults.

On this day, children are allowed to enter any government office including those which are prohibited to visitors on the ordinary days. Many entertainment parks in Thailand allow children to enjoy themselves with a minimum fee and at times, they allow children to enter for free on Children's Day. Every year the King, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, and the Prime Minister of Thailand give speeches addressing the children.

On Children's Day, the Bangkok Bank in Thailand offers stationary to the children. Whenever a child enters the bank on Children's Day, he / she is given pens, pencils, and books. This is looked upon as a community service. The bank also takes this opportunity to educate children about saving money and the benefits it can reap.

Thailand has a unique celebration and most probably this type of Children's Day is not celebrated in any other country.