Eat, play and love -- they're the three most significant elements in the development of a child during those first six years. So to raise public awareness regarding the importance of this, and to send the message to parents, Unicef along with Central Group recently launched a campaign entitled #EatPlayLove to promote children's brain development.
The core message is presented in the form of a three-minute video clip titled Eat Play Love, now available on YouTube. It tells the story of Ingfah Chommeelap, a preschool girl at Baan Wanaluang School in the northern province of Mae Hong Son. It underlines how Ingfah's family uses these three factors to promote her development. In the video, we see her parents and her teacher speaking about how crucial it is for a child to eat a balanced diet, engage in educational and other quality activities with family and friends, and express love.
The #EatPlayLove campaign, launched on March 5, kicked off with a mobile expo that will travel across Thailand, highlighting the three vital elements of positive nurturing. The exhibition -- claiming to be the first of its kind of Southeast Asia -- provides visitors with information, based on recent neuroscience, on how babies' brains develop, what they need to develop to their full potential, and concrete tips for parents, families and others who care for young children.
Thailand is still facing parenting-related challenges regarding inadequate care toward young children. According to a 2016 survey on the situation of women and children in Thailand, conducted by the National Statistical Office with support from Unicef, around one in 10 children under the age of five is stunted due to poor nutrition over an extended period. Parents' engagement with their children also remains low, especially among fathers, with only one in three fathers fully engaged with their children in activities that promote learning and development. In addition, almost eight in 10 children aged one-14 have been subjected to physical or psychological abuse.
As part of the campaign, popular singer-cum-songwriter and #EatPlayLove campaign hero Trai "Boy" Bhumirat, wrote a special song, Every Day, I Love You. In the song, the artist encourages parents and caretakers to make the most of this unique opportunity to provide their children with the best possible start in life.
The travelling expo started at CentralPlaza Lardprao, ending yesterday. It will next go on the road for a total of nine months, wrapping up in the middle of November. The next location is Central Plaza Nakhon Ratchasima from March 19-28 before proceeding to Central Plaza WestGate in Bangkok (April 21-30), Central Festival Samui (May 25 to June 3), Central Festival Chiang Mai (June 11-20), Central Plaza Khon Kaen (July 16-25), Central Plaza Bangna (Aug 14-23), Central Festival Pattaya (Sept 17-26), Central Festival EastVille in Bangkok (Oct 12-21) and CentralWorld (Nov 19-28). Admission to all is free.
