#Extracurricular

A popular parenting essay asks if spending on fancy activities gives kids an unfair edge. (Business Insider) The question matters for families and for social fairness across Thailand and the world. (Business Insider)(Business Insider)

The essay describes high-cost options like infant survival swim classes and premium baby products. The author says some families face pressure to buy early advantages. (Business Insider)(Business Insider)

New peer-reviewed research links extracurricular activities and school sports to better child mental health. The study found lower depression and attention problems among participants during the COVID-19 years. (Frontiers)(Frontiers in Sports and Active Living)

Across Bangkok’s affluent neighborhoods—from Thonglor to Ekkamai—Thai parents increasingly face an agonizing dilemma that reflects broader global tensions about childhood, fairness, and social mobility: whether investing thousands of baht monthly in premium children’s activities creates essential competitive advantages or perpetuates unfair inequalities that undermine Thailand’s Buddhist values of social harmony and equal opportunity for all children.

A provocative parenting analysis published by Business Insider has ignited international debate by questioning whether families who spend heavily on elaborate childhood enrichment—from infant survival swimming courses costing 15,000 baht to exclusive language immersion programs—are providing necessary preparation for modern success or creating insurmountable barriers that prevent less affluent children from competing fairly in education and career advancement.

A growing body of research is challenging long-held beliefs about the value of pushing children into numerous extracurricular activities, with new studies warning that more is not always better — and that excessive scheduling may actually harm children’s mental health and social development. These findings, recently discussed in a widely read article from The Cut, have significant implications for parents and educators worldwide, including in Thailand, where academics, sports, and other out-of-class pursuits are often seen as essential paths to success.