#Children

A major health policy shift in the United States is raising concern among Thai families and educators. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pursuing a ban on a widely used children’s supplement amid growing evidence that its active ingredient may be linked to brain damage in some cases. The news has sparked conversations about safety, regulation, and children’s nutrition in Thailand, where many families already turn to American-style supplements in hopes of supporting learning and health.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to ban a widely used supplement marketed for children over mounting evidence linking its consumption to cases of brain damage, according to several major news outlets including New York Post. The move raises immediate concerns for Thai families, doctors, and educators, as Thailand’s urban middle class has long trended toward American-style supplement use for children, in hopes of boosting learning and health outcomes.

A landmark new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that regular participation in sports and exercise during childhood has a significant, protective effect on mental health as young people grow into their teenage years. The research stands out for its scale, clarity, and detailed consideration of how sport and physical activity influence mental wellness among both boys and girls, offering critical insights for parents, educators, and policymakers in Thailand and beyond (usnews.com).

A recent report by UNICEF has revealed that while Japanese children excel in physical health, their mental well-being remains among the poorest in the developed world. Ranking 32nd out of 43 developed and emerging nations, Japan’s position is largely attributed to a troublingly high youth suicide rate, despite improvements in other areas of child development. This stark finding underscores an urgent need for both national awareness and targeted policies to address the mental health crisis among Japanese youth, offering important lessons for countries across Asia, including Thailand.

A large new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that kids who regularly play sports and stay active have a markedly lower chance of developing mental health issues as teenagers. The research stands out for its scale, clear findings, and detailed look at how physical activity affects mental wellness for both boys and girls, offering important lessons for parents, teachers, and policymakers in Thailand and beyond.

A heartwarming spark of parent-driven innovation is reverberating in classrooms after an Upworthy story spotlighted a mom’s inventive response to her 7-year-old child’s struggles with making friends at school: the ‘kind can’. As Thailand, like many countries, confronts rising concerns over school-based bullying and social isolation, this simple yet creative solution is winning attention for its potential to foster meaningful connection among young students—and could inform efforts here at home to cultivate kindness and empathy in Thai schools Upworthy.

A parent-driven idea known as the “kind can” is sparking new classroom conversations about kindness in Thailand. The concept gained attention after an Upworthy feature highlighted a mom’s creative method to help her 7-year-old cope with friendship challenges. As concerns about bullying and social isolation grow in Thai schools, this simple activity offers a practical way to cultivate daily acts of care and connection among students.

Many Thai families worry about their children’s ability to form friendships, especially in large or competitive urban settings in Bangkok and beyond. The core idea of the “kind can” is straightforward: children write acts of kindness or supportive gestures on slips of paper and place them in a can. When a student needs help or encouragement, they can draw a slip and try the suggested action. The approach turns kindness into a concrete, everyday practice.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital—recognized across the US for its leadership in pediatric health—has announced a major rebranding and expansion of its high-profile children’s mental health program. The “On Our Sleeves” initiative, which since 2018 has distributed free educational resources to over 15 million Americans, will now move forward as The Kids Mental Health Foundation, signaling a deepened mission to address the growing mental health crisis among youth nationwide (source).

This change comes at a pivotal moment for parents, educators, and health professionals. The US Surgeon General and other health authorities have described children’s mental health as a “national crisis.” In Thailand, as in the US, teachers and families report rising anxieties about the long-term effects of academic stress, social media, and the lingering aftermath of COVID-19 on youth wellbeing—a concern very much echoed in the recent US survey conducted by The Kids Mental Health Foundation, where 70% of nearly 540 parents said they are worried about their children’s mental health, and almost 40% said they are “very concerned” (source).

Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the United States has unveiled a major rebranding and expansion of its well-known pediatric mental health program. The initiative, previously known as On Our Sleeves, has distributed free educational resources to more than 15 million people since 2018. It will now operate as The Kids Mental Health Foundation, reflecting a strengthened commitment to addressing the growing mental health needs of young people nationwide.

This moment matters to parents, teachers, and health professionals. The US Surgeon General and other authorities have called children’s mental health a national crisis. In Thailand, educators and families report rising anxiety linked to intense academic pressure, social media, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 on youth. A recent survey conducted by the foundation indicates that about 70 percent of nearly 540 parents are worried about their children’s mental health, with almost 40 percent describing themselves as very concerned.