Amid a digital world where screens have become part of life from early childhood, five government agencies have united to establish guidelines for early childhood care, requiring children under two years old to avoid all types of screens. They also encourage parents and caregivers to refocus on talking, playing, and fostering interactions, which are fundamental to brain, language, emotional, and long-term developmental foundations.
Mr. Akaranan Kanakitinan, Deputy Minister of Education, said early childhood is the foundation of quality people, and quality people are the foundation of national security and prosperity. The government prioritizes early childhood development as a national agenda.
They approved the policy proposal '3 Accelerate, 3 Reduce, 3 Increase' to ensure all Thai children develop appropriately, happily, and reach their full potential through collaboration from all sectors. The 'Journey Through the Little Galaxy' concept invites Thai society to collectively reduce developmental risks, promote natural learning through play, and increase accurate knowledge among families, teachers, and caregivers to sustain Thai children's development.
On this occasion, five main agencies—the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Interior, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration—jointly declared a commitment to seriously reduce screen media use among young children and ban screen use before age two to promote age-appropriate development in all aspects, with the following guidelines:
1. Strictly prohibit the use of screen media, digital media, and all digital devices for children under two years old.
2. Seriously reduce screen media use for children aged two and above; screen use must be conditional and under close supervision by parents, guardians, teachers, and caregivers. Furthermore, the use of mobile phones and digital devices in classrooms must be controlled.
3. Agencies operating early childhood development centers must strictly control screen media, digital media, mobile phones, and digital devices usage in these centers, while promoting age-appropriate activities and learning experiences.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit Erawan, Secretary-General of the Education Council, reported that the Early Childhood Development Policy Committee and the Secretariat of the Education Council, as secretariat, have joined forces with all sector networks to drive the '3 Accelerate, 3 Reduce, 3 Increase' policy to support early childhood development amid crisis.
The Cabinet approved it as a national agenda on 27 Mar 2025 GMT+7 and is pushing for continuous and concrete implementation nationwide. This meeting was held under the theme 'Journey Through the Little Galaxy: Invite to Reduce, Invite to Play, Invite to Learn' to unite agencies and organizations nationwide in exchanging knowledge, experiences, innovations, and jointly advancing policies into practical results for Thai young children.
Following this was an academic discussion titled 'Journey Through the Little Galaxy: Invite to Reduce, Invite to Play, Invite to Learn to Promote Thai Early Childhood Well-being,' featuring speakers including Associate Professor Dr. Worawut Cheyprasert, a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yoswee Saifa, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University;
along with Ajarn Thida Pitaksinsuk, an early childhood education expert and President of the Kindergarten Education Association of Thailand; Mr. Paran Jiamjittong, a parent representative; and Dr. Thinsiri Siripho from UNICEF Thailand, who served as moderator.
The meeting exchanged perspectives on creating suitable environments for children aged 0–6, whose brains develop fastest. It emphasized proper management of screen media use, such as setting time limits and family rules, and using digital media only as a supplementary learning tool—for example, showing video clips of a butterfly’s life cycle during metamorphosis with a teacher encouraging observation and questions. Importantly, it stressed that children under two should strictly avoid screen media use.
Establishing a good foundation at this age impacts quality of life, learning skills, and lifelong potential. Early childhood development is not only a family duty but a national responsibility requiring serious collaboration across sectors. Investing in early childhood is an investment not only for today but for Thailand’s future and a firm foundation for long-term national development.
Additionally, the meeting divided into three academic discussion groups on 'Invite to Reduce, Invite to Play, Invite to Learn' as a starting point for strong cooperation and a vital force to create Thai young children who are capable, good, happy, and grow to become the nation's key strength.
For 'Invite to Reduce,' the focus is on reducing screen media use, violence, and developmental risk factors; 'Invite to Play' encourages free, meaningful play and learning through age-appropriate creative media; and 'Invite to Learn' aims to build correct knowledge and skills among parents, guardians, teachers, caregivers, and all involved in early childhood care.
The event also featured exhibitions from partner agencies showcasing innovations, knowledge, and tools for comprehensive early childhood development across all dimensions.