#Education

A growing number of people are choosing to become solo parents, and the trend is increasingly visible in Thailand. More women are opting for parenthood through assisted reproduction and independent planning, driven by advances in reproductive tech, financial independence, and evolving social norms. As Thai society undergoes demographic and cultural shifts, understanding solo parenthood by choice is essential for policymakers, educators, and families.

Single parents by choice are individuals who deliberately decide to have and raise children on their own. The rise reflects broader access to fertility treatments, increased economic security for women, and shifting gender roles. Data from mature economies shows significant growth: in the United Kingdom, about 3.2 million families were headed by a single parent in 2023, most often led by women. In the United States, the share of children living with a single parent has risen substantially since the 1960s. While Thailand-specific numbers are limited, fertility clinics and professional networks report a noticeable uptick among urban professionals and women in their 30s and 40s.

A growing body of local and global research shows a troubling trend: most Thai children do not meet the World Health Organization’s guideline of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. This shortfall—noted by Thai education and health officials—could affect students’ academic performance, physical health, and mental wellbeing.

In Hong Kong, a recent feature highlights a secondary student whose daily runs and basketball helped improve sleep, focus, and grades. The University of Hong Kong reports that more than 90% of children there fail to reach the 60-minute daily target. The story underscores a broader pattern echoed by researchers and health authorities worldwide, including Thailand.

A growing body of global and local research is highlighting a worrying trend: the vast majority of children in Thailand, much like their peers in Hong Kong and around the world, are failing to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This shortfall—revealed by the latest studies and echoed by Thai education and health officials—raises concerns about the lasting impacts on academic performance, physical health, and mental wellbeing among the nation’s youth.

A recent study signals a link between avoidant attachment to parents and a growing preference for a childfree life. The findings suggest that early emotional bonds shape adult decisions about parenthood, adding context to declines in birth rates and evolving family norms in Thailand and beyond.

Thailand faces a significant demographic challenge, with birth rates at historic lows. Data from national planning authorities show this trend intersects with economic uncertainty and changing gender roles. The new research adds another layer, showing that family attachments in childhood may influence whether adults choose not to have children.

Imagine paying for a concert ticket, then waking up on the day of the event feeling sick as a tropical downpour soaks the city. Logic suggests you should stay home—your health is at risk, and the rain will make everything miserable. Yet, you force yourself to go, reasoning that if you don’t, your 2,000 baht ticket will be wasted. This everyday scenario, familiar to many Thais balancing spending and social obligations, illustrates the psychological trap known as the “sunk cost fallacy.” It is a common bias that leads people to continue investing time, money, or effort into a decision even when doing so no longer serves their best interest, all because they want to justify past, irretrievable investments. In a society where respect for personal sacrifice and resourcefulness is highly valued, understanding this phenomenon carries deep significance for both individual Thais and the nation as a whole.

A groundbreaking new study is challenging longstanding demographic wisdom by asserting that humanity’s current fertility rate is now too low to guarantee survival—even if average births per woman meet the historical “replacement” level. The research, led by a Japanese scientist and published in the journal PLOS One, argues that the global average of 2.1 children per woman simply isn’t enough. Instead, it suggests that a fertility rate of 2.7 is the true mark required to ensure humanity’s long-term prospects, a conclusion that carries serious implications for countries like Thailand, where the fertility rate is well below these thresholds.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Leicester shows that some of the largest flying reptiles, pterosaurs, spent far more time on the ground than scientists previously believed. By examining fossilized footprints attributed to Quetzalcoatlus, a giant with a wingspan up to 10 meters, researchers have enriched our understanding of how these creatures lived alongside dinosaurs. The findings help Thai readers connect global paleontology with Southeast Asia’s own ancient landscape, enriching Earth history education in Thailand.

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Leicester has revealed that some of the largest creatures ever to soar the prehistoric skies, the pterosaurs, spent far more time on the ground than previously thought. Through extensive examination of fossilised tracks attributed to the giant Quetzalcoatlus, with wingspans reaching up to 10 metres (32 feet), scientists have now painted a richer picture of the behaviour and lifestyle of these flying reptiles that coexisted with dinosaurs hundreds of millions of years ago (BBC News).

A surprising alert from recent coverage suggests the Antarctic ice sheet has grown for the first time in decades. The report challenges the long-standing view of relentless polar ice loss and prompts experts to reexamine how ocean currents, weather patterns, and snowfall interact with global warming. For Thailand, where flood risk remains among the highest worldwide, the development raises questions about longer-term sea-level trends and regional preparedness.

Continued satellite observations have documented complex dynamics in Antarctic ice. While long-term data show a global warming trend and significant ice loss in some regions, researchers caution that short-term fluctuations do not overturn the overarching pattern. In particular, scientists note that ocean circulation changes, regional climate variability, and episodic heavy snowfall can temporarily influence ice behavior. As a result, robust conclusions require decades of consistent data, not just isolated periods of growth.

In a surprising shift, the Antarctic ice sheet has reportedly expanded for the first time in decades, according to a recent article by The Daily Galaxy (dailygalaxy.com). This development marks a significant reversal from the enduring narrative of relentless polar ice loss and has triggered widespread discussion in the scientific community about the complexities of climate change, ocean currents, and global weather patterns.

For years, research and satellite observations have documented a steady decline in both the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, with implications for rising sea levels and extreme weather events worldwide. Thailand, a country consistently ranked among the world’s most vulnerable to climate change-driven flooding, has closely monitored these polar trends. News of an expanding Antarctic ice sheet, therefore, raises critical questions: Is this a fleeting anomaly or a sign of deeper shifts in Earth’s climate system? And what might this mean for global strategies to address rising seas and environmental crises?

A renewed interest in traditional parenting methods is sparking important conversations about how to raise resilient, responsible children. While gentle parenting has gained traction, recent coverage highlights enduring wisdom from past generations. For Thai readers, this discussion resonates with long-standing cultural values that emphasize family roles, respect for elders, and learning through daily practice in a fast-changing world.

Experts note that clear boundaries and consistent routines help children develop self-discipline and emotional security. Empathy and respectful treatment remain essential, but structure remains a crucial foundation. Research from reputable studies in child development supports a balanced approach that combines warmth with appropriate limit-setting.

A new study suggests that adversity in childhood can cause measurable damage to the brain’s white matter. The finding has important implications for parents, educators, and policy-makers in Thailand, as it highlights how early stress can affect long-term learning and mental health.

In Thailand, the phrase “Land of Smiles” hides underlying challenges. Official data and NGO reports point to significant child adversity at home and in school. In 2023, Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security documented thousands of cases of child abuse and neglect, reflecting broader social and economic pressures, including poverty, migration, family breakdown, and educational inequality.

A groundbreaking new study has found that experiencing adversity during childhood can result in measurable damage to the brain’s white matter, a discovery that could transform how parents, educators, and policy-makers in Thailand approach the challenges facing vulnerable children. The research, highlighted by ScienceAlert, reveals that the effects of hardships such as abuse, neglect, or chronic stress do not just shape a child’s psychological wellbeing—they may also leave lasting marks on the physical structure of the developing brain.

A recent study reveals how brain networks and social bonds shape why some people are more inclined to help others. While the research used rats, its insights illuminate human prosocial behavior and how generosity strengthens communities, families, and friendships. For Thai readers, the findings echo everyday kindness—from small hospitality gestures to widespread aid after disasters.

Thai culture places a high value on social harmony, kindness, and generosity. Yet not everyone acts with the same frequency or intensity. The study, published in a leading neuroscience journal by researchers at Tel Aviv University, suggests that helping may be partly hardwired in the brain and influenced by social bonding and the hormone oxytocin, often called the “social bonding” chemical. In the experiments, rats faced a choice to free a trapped peer. Most helped, but roughly one in three did not, reflecting dynamics familiar in human groups.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has delivered unexpected results in the scientific quest for understanding consciousness, challenging two of the most prominent theories about its origins and offering fresh insights with potential to reshape clinical neuroscience worldwide. The findings reveal that neither Integrated Information Theory (IIT) nor Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT)—the cornerstones of modern consciousness research—can fully account for how human conscious experience arises, redirecting scientific focus to the brain’s sensory areas and raising critical implications for patient care and brain injury diagnosis (Neuroscience News).

A recent Nature study reshapes thinking on consciousness by challenging the two leading theories and focusing attention on the brain’s sensory regions. The work, conducted with a large, diverse group of participants and led by researchers from a major research institution, suggests that neither Integrated Information Theory (IIT) nor Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) alone can fully explain conscious experience. The findings emphasize sensory processing as a core driver of awareness, with important implications for patient care and brain-injury diagnosis in Thailand and beyond.

A new framework released in early May by a leading fintech group product manager is making waves throughout the global business and technology communities, urging organizations to reconsider the automatic use of large language models (LLMs) for every artificial intelligence (AI) application. The article, recently published by VentureBeat, cautions that LLMs—despite their popularity—are not always the best fit for all customer needs and often prove costly and imprecise compared to other machine learning (ML) or rules-based solutions (VentureBeat).

A provocative study from Shizuoka University questions whether today’s fertility level is high enough to sustain human populations over the long term. It argues that a global average of 2.1 births per woman—the traditional replacement rate—may not guarantee stability. Instead, the research suggests a higher threshold of about 2.7 births per woman could be necessary. The findings matter for Thailand, where current fertility sits well below that target.

Historically, experts worried about overpopulation as populations exploded—from under 3 billion in 1960 to over 8 billion today. Public health campaigns, contraception access, and shifting social norms reduced fertility dramatically. By 2023, the world’s average had dropped to around 2.3 births per woman. In many Asian countries, including Thailand, this rapid demographic transition was seen as a development success.

A new framework released in early May by a leading fintech product manager is sparking debate in global business and tech circles. It urges organizations to pause before automatically adopting large language models (LLMs) for every AI need. The piece, summarized by VentureBeat, notes that while LLMs are popular, they are not always the best fit, and can be costly and less precise than alternative machine learning (ML) or rules-based solutions.

A growing body of research investigated in a recent article in The Atlantic challenges conventional wisdom about how boys should be raised, revealing that gendered parenting and cultural expectations may be holding back the emotional and developmental well-being of boys. These findings carry special significance for parents and educators in Thailand, where traditional models of masculinity often shape family and school life.

In societies around the world, including Thailand, the prevailing narrative says that boys must be tough, stoic, and emotionally restrained to succeed in life. This perspective, fueled by generations of social customs and amplified by contemporary social media influencers as well as political rhetoric, encourages boys to suppress feelings in favor of physical strength and competition. However, new studies suggest that such approaches run counter to boys’ actual developmental needs and may have long-term negative effects, not just for the boys themselves but for wider society as well.

A wave of recent research summarized in a major national publication questions long-held ideas about raising boys. The findings suggest that traditional expectations of male toughness and emotional restraint may hinder boys’ emotional health and overall development. For Thai parents and educators, the implications are significant as family life and schools continue to shape young people’s growth.

Globally, including Thailand, the prevailing view has been that boys must be strong, stoic, and less expressive to succeed. This mindset is reinforced by cultural norms, social media, and political rhetoric, which can lead boys to suppress feelings in favor of competition and achievement. New studies, however, indicate such approaches may misalign with boys’ developmental needs and could carry long-term costs for individuals and society.

Recent discussions on parenting have reignited interest in the methods used by earlier generations, sparking a debate about the timeless wisdom embedded in so-called “old-school” parenting approaches. While contemporary “gentle parenting” strategies have gained significant popularity, recent media coverage, including a widely shared article from YourTango, highlights how many traditional parenting methods still offer valuable insights for today’s families (YourTango). This renewed conversation is especially relevant as Thai parents examine the shifting landscape of family life and child development in the digital age.

Recent research and expert opinion highlight a growing trend worldwide: children are reaching puberty earlier than previous generations. This shift, described in a new book by a leading US clinical psychologist and echoed by global medical research, has deep implications for both physical and mental health. For Thai families, understanding what early puberty means—and how to support children through it—has never been more important.

Traditionally, puberty marked a transitional period from childhood to adolescence, typically starting around age 10 for girls and 12 for boys. But in recent years, doctors and parents alike have noticed that children as young as six are showing physical signs of development, outpacing their emotional and cognitive maturity. As Thai society becomes increasingly urbanized and children’s free time shrinks—driven by academic pressures and technology—this gap between body and mind is widening. According to the US psychologist cited in the Boston Globe report, ages six to 12 are now seen as the most crucial window for parents to influence and guide children before they are swept up in the whirlwind of adolescence.

New scientific research from Japan is shedding light on a remarkable role of sleep: it does not just safeguard our memories of the past, but also equips the brain for learning and adapting to the future. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, offer insights that are poised to reshape education strategies and approaches to memory health, with clear significance for individuals and policymakers in Thailand.

For generations, Thais—like people worldwide—have held age-old beliefs about the power of a good night’s sleep. Apart from its value for physical health, sleep has long been assumed to help “remember” lessons, from Buddhist scripture memorization in temples to late-night cramming before university examinations. This study by researchers led by a professor at the University of Toyama delivers fresh, concrete scientific evidence that gives new meaning to those cultural insights—and may even offer new paths to address memory-related diseases, a rising concern as Thailand’s population ages.