PATTAYA – Music, games, food and presents highlighted activities staged by schools, municipal offices and police stations as the Eastern Seaboard observed Children’s Day.
Government offices from Pattaya to Nong Plalai hosted official, day-long events Jan. 13 to spoil Thailand’s pampered children even more on their special day.
District Chief Naris Niramaiwong presided over Banglamung’s celebration featuring games and free food. The Banglamung Red Cross gave every child attending a gift.
At Pattaya City Hall, City Manager Chanapong Sriviset did the honors, encouraging parents to bring their kids to booths offering education activities and enjoy stage performances from city students. Similar events also were held in Nong Plalai and Nongprue.
Officers at Pattaya Police Station set up their own stage for entertainment and treated kids to gifts of teddy bears, toys and other items. The station also was opened for tours.
Pattaya schools, of course, did their part, tossing in educational quizzes with games, free desserts and gifts. Similar activities also were offered at Royal Garden Plaza, Central Festival Pattaya Beach, Central Marina and Mike’s Shopping Mall, all of which were decorated for the occasion.
Wat Najomtien School in Sattahip hosted more than 20 booths offering games, food and beverages. The kids showed their appreciation by all lining up below a Thai flag and thanking the adults and promising to be good for the coming year.
Children’s Day also saw special attention placed on at-risk or infirm children who couldn’t make it out to the various events.
The Human Help Network’s Drop-In Center hosted Thai and foreign children for a Children’s Day event with HHN Director Ratchada Chomjinda ensuring all the youngsters enjoyed themselves.
A stage saw kids dressed in traditional Thai costumes perform music and dance numbers while other kids got to show off their artistic sides at booths offering painting, sketching and more.
In Chonburi, Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai hosted a Children’s Day Festival at Chonburi Hospital’s Learning Center for children with chronic illnesses.
The Jan. 11 event, organized with the Lion’s Club of Bangsaen, treated the sick youths to presents, food and beverages.
Dr. Sawan Kwanjaipanich, the hospital’s director, said the festival allowed ill children to still feel like they’re part of society.
Of course, no Children’s Day would be complete without small children playing with big guns. The Sattahip Naval Base, as usual, was there to accommodate.
The navy opened the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, Similan, Pinklao and Saiburi to tours. Thousands of kids climbed aboard big guns and inspected parts of the warships they’d normally only see in films.
Down the road at the navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Capt. Surayut Niwetthonglit welcomed kids to tour the center, feed endangered turtles, feed themselves omelets and participate in games and dancing. There also were a few big guns around to take selfies with.
Photos of the general atmosphere around town and activities taking place. It was a ‘kid’s day’ after all.
