Unicef launches campaign for early childhood development
UNICEF Thailand launched the "Best Start: The First Six Years of Life are the Golden Years for Children" campaign yesterday to raise awareness about the |importance of early childhood development and to encourage parents to invest more in their young chil
“The first six years of a child’s life are critical. This is when the brain develops most rapidly,” Valerie Taton, deputy representative for Unicef Thailand, said. “This period provides us with a one-time-only window of opportunity to ensure that a child develops to its fullest potential.
It is during this crucial period that the foundations for lifelong learning and development are laid.”
Napat Phisanbut, Unicef Thailand’s communication for development officer, said studies had found that only 12 per cent of Thai mothers breastfed their children.
“That is lower than many other countries,” Napat said.
Taton went on to say that the “Best Start” campaign would help parents realise the need to develop their young children as well as have the government pay attention to this issue.
“Investment in early childhood is an investment in the future,” she added.
The “Best Start” campaign is now calling on people to support the cause by signing a petition at www.beststartthailand.com and on its Facebook page, Beststartthailand, in order to urge the government and other sectors to focus more on young children.
Studies have found that 16 per cent of Thai children are stunted due to the lack of necessary nutrition, while 11 per cent are obese. Also, 25 per cent of three-year-olds in Thailand do not benefit from early education.
Unicef has appointed six celebrities – Yarinda Bunnag, Vanessa “Nudi” Race, Panisara “Opal” Arayaskul, Boyd Kosiyabong, Sarawut Hengsawad aka Roundfinger and Suharit Siamwalla – as campaign ambassadors and they will help raise awareness about the problems facing young children in Thailand today.
