#Socialdevelopment

When a parent in the United States faced the worry that homeschooling would leave her children antisocial and friendless, she found not only heartfelt evidence of thriving social lives but also a growing body of research that supports the same conclusion. The story she tells—about park meetups, theater classes, volunteering, and busy weekends with peers—reflects a broader shift in how scholars view social development among homeschooled children. In the latest studies and reviews through 2024 and 2025, researchers aren’t chasing a sensational narrative but rather painting a consistent picture: homeschooling, when supported by structured social opportunities and community connections, does not stunt a child’s social world. In fact, it can deepen peer relationships and expand networks beyond the classroom walls.

A recent discussion on Slate’s Care and Feeding podcast centers on a simple moment: a five-year-old in a rural family asks for a sibling, seeking companionship. With more families worldwide choosing to have one child, the topic touches on social development, emotional health, and family dynamics—and how parents can support children’s social needs in moments of loneliness. For Thai readers, this resonates as demographic shifts and economic realities influence a new generation of only children.

A recent episode of Slate’s “Care and Feeding” parenting podcast highlighted a very relatable dilemma: a five-year-old only child in a rural family asked her parents for a sibling, expressing a yearning for companionship and connection. With a growing number of parents in the US, Thailand, and globally having just one child, her plea raises urgent questions about the effects of being a singleton on social development, emotional health, and family dynamics—and how parents can support their children’s social needs, especially when isolation looms large.

Recent global research has unveiled the surprising power of grandparenting to shape the health, identity, and resilience of the next generation—a finding that carries fresh resonance across Thai society as families navigate urbanization, shifting demographics, and evolving intergenerational roles. In a new era marked by aging populations and increasing longevity, the influence of grandparents is being rediscovered not only as a source of emotional nourishment, but as a foundation for cognitive and social development in grandchildren, bridging family culture, and preserving critical intergenerational wisdom.

New global research highlights how grandparenting shapes the health, identity, and resilience of the next generation. This insight resonates in Thailand as cities grow, families change, and intergenerational roles evolve. With aging populations and longer lifespans, grandparents are being rediscovered not only as emotional anchors but as contributors to cognitive and social development, while helping preserve family culture and wisdom.

Thai culture has long honored elders and supported multi-generational households. Yet recent reviews and analyses show grandparents influence more than caregiving; they shape values, coping skills, and social thriving. In a Thai context, grandparents often transmit patience, gratitude, and perseverance through shared meals, festivals, and daily routines that anchor children amid a fast-changing society.