#ChildRights

Growing numbers of Thai parents and teachers are exploring new approaches to managing children’s behaviour, as recent research and global guidance champion ‘positive discipline’ techniques over outdated punishment-based methods. Grounded in decades of child psychology studies, these gentler strategies promise not just better results at home and in the classroom, but also healthier emotional development and stronger family bonds. The trend aligns with rising awareness in Thailand about children’s rights and well-being, mirroring a global shift that could signal significant cultural change.

A recent spotlight by the HuffPost has reignited debate about parenting practices passed down from the boomer generation, highlighting that several trends once deemed normal are now considered outdated, strange, or even potentially harmful by today’s parents. As Thai society transitions swiftly with global influences, these findings raise urgent questions for families seeking to nurture healthy, happy children in a dramatically changed world.

Traditional parenting guidance, from the belief in strict physical discipline to outdated gender roles and a dismissive attitude toward mental health, has long shaped parenting in Thailand and abroad. The HuffPost article, based on expert opinions and parental feedback, lists 18 specific practices from the boomer era that today’s parents often reject. These include using corporal punishment, shaming children for expressing emotions, and insisting on unconditional obedience, practices that were once seen as keys to success but are now tied to negative outcomes in modern research (HuffPost).