Another marvellous use of public money.... wonder if the gift sets will ever reach Isaan. If bar girls get any quicker or cleverer we're all in soap!
Thai babies get government gifts
Thailand has introduced a scheme to stimulate the IQ of newborn children.
Parents will receive a gift set which includes items like plastic books and CDs of lullabies, designed to promote thought and mental stimulation.
Thailand's health ministry estimates 700,000 gift sets will be distributed per year, at a cost of $7.5m.
Launching the programme, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thailand needed to create a generation of quick and clever minds.
The gift set contains a variety of items. A multi-coloured blanket made from different textiles is intended to promote sight and touch.
Soft toys are included to stimulate tactile nerves, as is a floating plastic book which can be safely read in the bath.
Concerns have been raised in recent years that standards of education in Thailand have been slipping.
A recent survey showed that children over 10 years old read less than three minutes a day.
The government is considering a book start project in which free books will be given to children of all ages.
Source: BBC News
Tiny Minds
Tiny Minds
Never trust a hippy....
I read this on the BBC a few days ago and credit where credit is due - I think they've actually got this one right, at least in principle. It is very similar to government schemes to promote literacy here in the UK, and having been a beneficiary (my youngest received a similar pack) I would say that it definitely promotes interest in books, words, pictures etc. from an early age. The statistics quoted in the article should not surprise any of us - few Thai houses that I have come across have any books in them at all, so at least this will give the adults something to read too!