A global conversation questions long-held parenting norms. New research suggests certain familiar practices can harm children’s emotional development. The discussion gained momentum after a widely shared July 2025 BuzzFeed piece, and mental health professionals emphasize moving away from constant teasing, forced affection, harsh discipline, and public shaming. Thai families, known for warmth yet rooted in traditional hierarchies, may find these insights especially relevant as they navigate modern parenting and mental health challenges.
The BuzzFeed article gathers personal stories from online forums, echoing a consensus that rules such as silent treatment, emotional suppression, empty threats, and online shaming can undermine well-being. A licensed therapist cited in the piece notes the lifelong impact of a parent who lacks consistent empathy in everyday moments. The observations align with a growing body of research, including a 2024 Frontiers in Psychology review, which shows how early parent–child interactions shape a child’s ability to regulate emotions, trust others, and thrive academically and socially.
In Thailand, where respect for elders and emotional restraint are deeply ingrained, these findings resonate. Traditional proverbs and cultural expectations often equate discipline with growth, yet many Thai families are increasingly prioritizing warmth, validation, and open emotion as essential for well-being. This shift mirrors a broader global move toward mindful, responsive parenting.
Recent psychology and neuroscience findings reinforce the message. A June 2024 Frontiers in Psychology review explains that the neural and psychological foundations for emotion regulation are built through attuned, responsive caregiving long before school age. Gentle, present parenting supports resilience and social competence, while frequent shaming, punitive responses, or constant surveillance can foster anxiety and emotional distress that persist into adulthood.
A 2024 meta-analysis in the journal Children links overprotectiveness and low parental warmth with teen anxiety, depression, and externalizing problems such as aggression. These effects arise partly because children struggle to regulate their emotions when parental messages are inconsistent or dismissive.
Another 2024 study finds that supportive emotion socialization and a positive family emotional climate correlate with stronger brain activity in regions tied to emotion regulation among early adolescent girls with high internalizing symptoms. The takeaway: warmth and taught strategies for managing feelings boost neurobiological resilience against depression and anxiety. Harshness or neglect, by contrast, weakens this foundation.
Why do old practices persist? Cultural psychologists note that emotion regulation has become popular in parenting discussions, yet many societies—including Thailand—still prize emotional restraint as a sign of maturity. Experts warn that downplaying emotions can be harmful, even as science supports more open, attuned caregiving. Emotions, including difficult ones, can be useful tools when addressed with appropriate strategies.
Thai parents face practical questions: where is the line between guidance and control? How can elder respect coexist with a child’s emotional needs? How can families manage stress and digital distractions in a busy, modern society?
Experts offer clear recommendations for families and communities:
- Reflect on emotional messages conveyed through words and actions every day.
- Practice patient listening, allowing children to share feelings without fear of ridicule or punishment.
- Avoid using affection as a reward or punishment; unconditional love should be consistent.
- Replace public shaming with private, respectful conversations about behavior and consequences.
- Encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement within tradition.
- Seek professional support or community programs—such as mindfulness-based parenting—when stress becomes overwhelming.
- Use positive reinforcement more often than negative discipline, especially after mistakes.
- Model emotional regulation by openly discussing your own feelings in age-appropriate ways.
- Adopt emotion-coaching approaches that help children name, validate, and navigate strong emotions.
For policymakers and educators, the message is to integrate family-centered, culturally sensitive mental health and education strategies. This includes supporting parents with accessible education, outreach, and reduced stigma around seeking help.
Thailand’s heritage offers a strong foundation for these changes. The spirit of namjai (generosity of heart) can be reframed as emotional generosity, and Buddhist mindfulness and compassion align with evidence-based parenting practices. By blending tradition with modern insights, Thai families can cultivate resilience, empathy, and well-being in the next generation.
Practical next steps for families include:
- Regularly assess the emotional tone in family interactions.
- Practice nonjudgmental listening to validate children’s feelings.
- Ensure affection is steady and unconditional, not tied to behavior.
- Keep discussions about misbehavior private and constructive.
- Encourage questions, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue with elders.
- Access local resources such as mindfulness-based parenting programs offered in hospitals and community centers.
- Model healthy emotional regulation and share age-appropriate feelings openly.
- Use emotion coaching to help children navigate big emotions.
For local leaders, integrating mental health education, family support services, and stigma reduction is essential. These efforts should honor Thai cultural values while promoting healthier parent–child relationships.
If readers seek support, resources are available through the Ministry of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, regional child development centers, and hospital-based pediatric mental health services.
In summary, Thai families can honor traditional values while embracing evidence-based, emotionally attuned parenting. By combining generosity of heart with practical skills, Thailand can foster resilient, compassionate, and thriving children.