Bangkok, 19 January 2023 – Friend of UNICEF Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra once again joins UNICEF Thailand to mobilize public support to provide children in need with a Magic Box, a practical set of learning materials to help children’s physical and cognitive development.
“The early years are the most critical years in a child’s life, and we must do all we can to ensure that the children eat well, play hard and live in a loving and engaging environment that helps stimulate their optimal development,” said Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra, Friend of UNICEF. “Sadly, millions of children in Thailand still lack basic learning materials and the support they need to reach their full potential,” he continued.
In Thailand, 66 percent of children under five years old, or around 2.8 million children, have less than three books at home, while 20 percent of them, or around 860,000, hardly have any toys at all, according to the 2019 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey conducted by the National Statistical Office and supported by UNICEF. In addition, only 34 percent of fathers engage in activities with their children at home.
UNICEF’s Magic Box contains books, toys, learning materials, and practical guidelines for parents to boost children’s development through simple activities and games families can play at home. This year, UNICEF plans to distribute 7,000 Magic Boxes to the most vulnerable children across Thailand, including to the early childhood development centres in 23 provinces, to ensure that every child has a fair start in life.
“Every one of these boxes can help children continue their learning while they are at home, during a typical day at home, or in unprecedented hard times, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic when early childhood development centres were closed,” said Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra urging the Thai public to join hands supporting the most vulnerable children.
“Please join me and UNICEF and become a monthly donor or make a one-time donation for this Magic Box campaign so that children across the country, especially the most disadvantaged, can learn and develop as best as they could, whenever and wherever they are.”
Watch Peck’s appeal for support on Magic Boxes at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyUHgKim1Uw
To donate 100 baht for a Magic box, text M9 to 4712225
For more information, visit www.unicef.or.th/play
