#Parenting

A major new book, “The Family Dynamic” by Susan Dominus, is challenging long-held beliefs about how families can raise high-achieving children, offering vital insights for Thai parents pressured by rising academic and social expectations. Drawing on extensive reporting and scientific research, Dominus turns the conventional wisdom about parenting for success on its head, revealing that high achievement in children often comes with underappreciated emotional costs—and that much of what parents agonize over may matter less than they think.

A recently published article in The Atlantic has put a spotlight on what social scientists, educators, and families around the world are increasingly calling the “default parent” problem—a persistent societal bias where mothers are treated as the primary caregiver by default, regardless of the actual family arrangement or parental wishes. Grounded in new research and illustrated by repeated real-life stories, this phenomenon persists in households, schools, clinics, and even airline cabins, with broad implications for work-life balance, gender equality, and family well-being.

A groundbreaking study published in Development and Psychopathology has revealed that the way parents respond to their daughters during emotionally charged arguments may help predict the likelihood of suicidal thoughts a year later. Specifically, adolescent girls whose parents failed to reciprocate eye contact and happy facial expressions during parent-child conflicts were found to be at greater risk for developing suicidal ideation. This research underscores the profound impact of subtle, moment-to-moment behaviors on mental health—a finding especially relevant for families and professionals concerned about the rising rates of suicide among adolescent girls worldwide.

A recent May 15, 2025 piece from a leading Indian daily highlighted ten phrases that empower kids to defend themselves calmly and non-violently. The report is attracting attention in Asia, including Thailand, for offering research-backed language children can use to de-escalate bullying and seek help when needed.

Bullying remains a challenge in Thai schools, as it does globally. Data from Thailand’s health and education authorities indicate that a significant portion of secondary students experience some form of bullying, whether verbal, physical, or social exclusion. The emotional impact can be lasting, affecting mental health, academics, and self-worth. In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education emphasize the need for proactive strategies that combine communication skills with clear reporting paths. The latest study offers practical verbals that children can deploy to deflect harm, de-escalate tension, and escalate concerns to trusted adults.

A landmark book, The Family Dynamic by Susan Dominus, challenges the belief that relentless parental planning guarantees high-achieving children. For Thai readers facing mounting academic and social pressures, the work offers timely insights into how family life can support well-being alongside achievement.

Dominus profiles six sets of remarkable siblings shaped by determined, future-focused parents. The families’ stories show children becoming doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Yet the book also reveals a price: emotional strain, anxiety, and burnout can accompany intense parental ambition. The message is clear—pushing too hard for success can overshadow a child’s broader sense of purpose.

A growing body of research suggests that moderate, mindful video game play can offer real cognitive and emotional advantages for Thai youth, challenging lingering stereotypes that gaming is simply a waste of time. With Thailand’s young population becoming a powerhouse in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, these findings hold practical relevance for families, educators, and policymakers seeking constructive, tech-enabled learning paths.

Historically, gaming has battled negative stereotypes. The World Health Organization has acknowledged that excessive gaming can lead to problematic behaviors. Yet recent literature shows that balanced gaming can strengthen spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity. As popular titles like Animal Crossing, Fortnite, and Mobile Legends captivate Thai players, understanding the broader impacts of gaming is more important than ever.

A recent Atlantic feature shines a light on the “default parent” problem — the default expectation that mothers are the primary caregiver. This bias persists across homes, schools, clinics, and workplaces, shaping work-life balance and gender equality worldwide, including in Thailand.

For Thai readers, the phenomenon feels familiar. School forms often list mothers as emergency contacts, doctors reach out chiefly to mothers, and fathers who are primary caregivers are still treated as exceptions. Despite rising dual-income households and greater father involvement, the expectation that mothers coordinate daily child care remains deeply rooted. This dynamic adds emotional labor for mothers and obscures active father participation.

A new study in Development and Psychopathology shows that how parents respond during heated exchanges with their daughters may predict suicidal thoughts a year later. Specifically, girls whose parents do not reciprocate eye contact or smiles during conflicts are at higher risk for later suicidal ideation. The findings highlight how moment-to-moment parental behaviors shape mental health, offering practical guidance for families and educators concerned about rising suicide risk among teenage girls.

The popular image of video gaming in Thailand often leans toward caution—concerns about addiction, wasted time, and negative social or health impacts. However, a wave of recent research is overturning these preconceptions, highlighting an array of surprising cognitive, psychological, and social benefits linked to moderate and mindful video game play. With Thailand’s youth among the most active in Southeast Asia’s expanding digital economy, these findings may carry particular significance for local families, educators, and policymakers.

The notion that fathers “babysit” when caring for their own children has come under renewed scrutiny, as new research highlights the detrimental effects of gendered parenting roles on both caregivers and their children. A recent article by Dr. Kate Balestrieri stresses that calling a father’s involvement “babysitting” is not merely an innocent slip of the tongue, but a reflection of deep-seated inequities in emotional and domestic responsibilities within households. This issue resonates widely, with significant implications for Thai society as evolving gender norms intersect with longstanding cultural expectations.

A growing body of research challenges the idea that fathers are merely “babysitting” when they care for their own children. Experts say the language we use signals deeper inequities in emotional and domestic responsibilities. For Thai families, evolving gender norms intersect with traditional expectations, making this an especially timely topic.

Across the globe, mothers have long been portrayed as the default caregivers, with fathers celebrated for occasional involvement. New insights, however, show that even in households where both parents work, women often shoulder more childcare and housework. A widely cited study by Bianchi and colleagues highlights how women spend more time on domestic duties than men, regardless of employment status. In Thailand, such patterns echo domestic realities and influence family health and harmony.

Families around the world are rethinking the boundaries of parenthood by turning to a model rooted in both ancient tradition and modern necessity—raising children together with trusted friends as an alternative or complement to family support. A recent in-depth feature by The Atlantic shines a spotlight on this emerging trend, revealing the practical challenges and deep rewards of creating a ‘chosen village’ for child-rearing in today’s fragmented social landscape. The insights from this story reflect an international movement with profound implications, not only for Western societies but also for countries like Thailand, where urbanization and changing family structures are reshaping childcare arrangements and community life.

A growing global trend is reshaping how families raise children: forming a “chosen village” of trusted friends to share parenting duties. An in-depth feature from The Atlantic examines how formalized, friendship-based co-parenting can ease modern stress while enriching children’s development. The piece speaks to a broader movement with implications for countries like Thailand, where urban life and shifting family structures are transforming childcare and community ties.

The article centers on a couple who, in 2023, relocated from Boston to Washington, D.C. Their best friends moved beside them, and another pair settled nearby. The aim was to support each other’s parenting while keeping trust and flexibility intact. Seven children wandered between homes as adults swapped childcare, meals, and emotional support. Despite logistical and cultural hurdles, participants reported greater social fulfillment and resilience than during solo parenting.

While many might assume that the frantic energy of the holidays ranks as parents’ most challenging season, a growing body of research and recent surveys reveal a different reality—it’s the end of the school year, with its overlapping obligations and the looming, unstructured expanse of summer break, that weighs most heavily on parents’ minds. This pattern, observed in both American and Thai families, holds crucial lessons as societies increasingly recognize the need to support parents and children during transitional periods outside the academic calendar.

A growing body of research shows that the end of the school year, not the holidays, is the peak season for parental stress. The overlap of end-of-year commitments and the long summer break creates a demanding period for families in both the United States and Thailand. This insight emphasizes the need to support parents and children during transitional moments outside the academic calendar.

A recent poll of 2,000 millennial parents in the United States found that nearly one-third report exhaustion as the school year ends, with similar shares noting anxiety and feeling overwhelmed as they balance summer plans with work. The end of year also brings high-ticket childcare costs, making structured summer activities inaccessible for many families. Data suggests day camps can cost between $73 and $87 per day, contributing to unstable routines for children and increased workloads for parents. Research highlights the broader impact of these pressures on family well-being and routines.

A new wave of research and expert opinion has cast doubt on the classic parenting phrase, “everything is fine,” calling it more harmful than once believed for children’s emotional development. Though many Thai parents and caregivers grew up hearing and using this seemingly benign statement to reassure distressed youngsters, developmental psychologists now warn that such dismissive comfort may actually disrupt a child’s ability to process emotions and build long-term resilience (thinkstewartville.com).

A growing body of research warns that telling children “everything is fine” may hinder their emotional development. Rather than soothing distress, dismissive reassurance can make kids doubt their own feelings and slow their resilience-building. In Thai households where harmony and respect are highly valued, experts say this phrase can send the message that distress is not worth addressing, with potential long-term effects on mental health and social skills.

In Thailand, strong family bonds mean parents often act quickly to calm a child after a tumble at a Bangkok park or a home disagreement. Yet leading Thai and Western psychologists emphasize that acknowledging emotions builds critical emotional literacy. When caregivers say what the child feels or join the child in processing the emotion, they help the child name, explain, and eventually move beyond the distress. Data from Thailand’s mental health sector aligns with international findings: early emotional invalidation links to greater social and emotional challenges later in life.

Recent research and commentary presented by NPR have cast fresh light on the delicate dynamics that can unravel friendships once children enter the picture. For many Thais and global readers alike, the news highlights a universal phenomenon: the arrival of children often disrupts social ties, leaving new parents and their child-free friends navigating unfamiliar emotional terrain. The insights provided resonate deeply in a society where close friendship networks are seen as essential support systems, and where evolving family and social structures in Thailand bring these issues into sharp relief (NPR).

A new analysis highlights a universal pattern: welcoming a child often alters the social landscape. For Thai audiences and readers worldwide, the message is clear—parenthood can disrupt longtime friendships as dynamics shift, creating emotional distance for both parents and child-free friends. The takeaway is relevant in Thai communities where close social networks are essential for support as families grow and urban life reshapes daily routines.

The report draws on real-life experiences, including a writer who felt intense loneliness after becoming a parent, the first in her circle to have a child. Friends without children gradually grew distant, underscoring a common hurdle. Experts in family counseling note that assumptions fuel the gap. Parents may fear inviting friends to family-centered events, while non-parents worry that their friends are too busy or exhausted to connect.

Recent research underscores how seemingly ordinary parenting behaviors can deeply impact children’s trust, highlighting seven actions that children often interpret as betrayal. The findings shed light on the sensitive nature of child-parent relationships and encourage a reassessment of everyday parental conduct, reinforcing the need for mindful communication and consistency in family life. These revelations are significant for Thai parents, educators, and mental health professionals who strive to nurture emotionally resilient and well-adjusted youth.

A recent study has shed light on the changing dynamics of information-seeking among children, revealing a striking trend: kids are more likely to trust Google than guidance from their own grandparents. This finding underscores the profound influence of digital technology on the younger generation in Thailand and beyond, raising important questions about the future of knowledge, cultural transmission, and education in the kingdom.

In an era where information is just a few taps away, Thai households are witnessing a significant cultural shift. Traditionally, elders like grandparents have been regarded as the primary sources of wisdom, life lessons, and practical knowledge—especially in rural regions and deeply rooted Thai families. However, with widespread smartphone access, high-speed internet, and the influence of digital literacy campaigns, youngsters today are turning to search engines for answers to their most pressing questions. This mirrors global findings that digital devices are now pervasive in childhood, according to studies by bodies such as UNICEF and the National Statistical Office of Thailand.

A new study highlights a striking shift in how Thai children seek information: many now lean on Google as a primary source more than guidance from their grandparents. The finding underscores the growing influence of digital technology on Thailand’s younger generation and raises questions about knowledge transmission, education, and cultural continuity.

Across Thai households, a cultural shift is unfolding. Elders—especially grandparents who share stories, herbal wisdom, and local history—have long been trusted custodians of knowledge in rural and urban families alike. With widespread smartphone use, fast internet, and digital literacy campaigns, children increasingly turn to search engines for answers. This reflects broader global patterns noted by researchers and international organizations about technology shaping childhood learning.

Recent research highlights how ordinary parenting actions can deeply affect a child’s sense of trust. The study identifies seven common behaviors that children often interpret as betrayal, urging Thai parents, teachers, and mental health professionals to rethink daily interactions and prioritize mindful communication.

While many caregivers assume their actions are harmless, psychological research shows that certain practices—such as breaking promises, dismissing a child’s feelings, or unfavorably comparing siblings—can wound trust. The findings align with broader developmental psychology, which shows that a child’s sense of security is shaped by the reliability and empathy demonstrated by adults. Data from established institutions suggests that early trust influences emotional regulation and future relationships.

A growing number of Thai parents and teachers are turning to positive discipline, guided by global research that favors guidance over punishment. Grounded in decades of child psychology, these approaches aim for healthier emotional development, stronger family bonds, and better classroom engagement. The shift reflects rising awareness of children’s rights in Thailand and echoes a broader international move toward compassionate, evidence-based parenting.

Positive discipline centers on teaching and guiding rather than scolding or physical punishment. Practices include setting clear expectations, praising constructive behavior, redirecting misbehavior, and fostering problem-solving skills. Rather than shouting, adults model calm communication, establish routines, and respond with empathy and firm boundaries.