Expat Children Guide
Within Thai society, the family lies at the heart of every social structure. It is common for a number of different generations to live in the same house or compound and also for grandparents to bring children up while the parents work. Elderly parents and grandparents are shown a great deal of respect and are cared for by all younger members of the family. Children are taught respect at a very early age. Many religious festivals throughout the year are centered on families, with people traveling for miles back to their hometown to spend time with their loved ones.
Thailand is a very agreeable place for children and Bangkok, in particular, is very good due to the amount of schools, nurseries and activities for children of all ages.
Raising a child in Bangkok offers many unique opportunities but also challenges. There are many questions that need to be considered. Some are issues that you would ask anywhere in the world: Are you going to raise your child to be multi-lingual or only learn your mother tongue? Which school is best for your children?
Others, however, deal specifically with Bangkok: Is health care of a high standard? Is Bangkok safe? Do pollution and disease pose any problems? In most cases these concerns are baseless. Thailand is, in general, a very safe place for children to grow up. You can also rest assured that your neighbors and friends will be happy to keep an eye out for your children, as communities often act as a second family.
Thais love children and Thai society is very supportive of children. As a parent you would naturally want your child to have as good an upbringing as possible. Bangkok has a wide selection of international schools for all ages and education systems. Though sometimes pricey, they offer children a truly multicultural environment and experienced English teachers. The Thai education system is very focused on the well-being of the students and places much emphasis on teaching children to get along. This is one aspect of Thai culture that many expats are very pleased with. Thai children are generally happy children!
Weekends and free-time offer many exciting places to visit with your children such as the Zoo, Ocean World, Shopping and the many great national parks and islands all within distance for a a quick weekend get away.
