Tomorrow is National Children's Day. We talked to a cross-section of youngsters from different backgrounds to get their views on life, work, education and what the day means to them.
Jireh V. Trinidad
13, a seventh grade Filipino student at Bangkok Christian International School (BCIS)
Where were you born?
I was born in Manila, the Philippines, but have spent 12 of my 13 years here in Bangkok.
What do you look forward to on Children's Day in Thailand?
The freebies. Wherever I go I get treats of all sorts. There are even free rides at the amusement park and free food which makes the day all the more special. The focus is on us, so that makes it memorable each time.
What do you wish most for this Children's Day?
As this is probably my last year to celebrate this event, I would like to hang out with my friends without being chaperoned by adults. Just take a bus to visit and chill out with friends at the mall would be nice.
What do you hope to become when you grow up?
A professional jazz singer.
Who's your hero?
The multi-talented Filipino singer Sarah Geronimo. I look up to her as a role model because she has worked hard for the success she enjoys today.
Why do you think it is important to continue with the tradition of celebrating Children's Day?
For one because when you look back as you get older it brings happy memories. Special moments spent with people you love.
As we live in the Asean region, how would you suggest we celebrate Children's Day where every child can be represented?
We could arrange to have an event at say a coffee shop where we could sit around and share how each country in Asean celebrates Children's Day. After that we could arrange for activities that tell these stories.
Praewa Sodee
9, Prathom 3 Myanmar student at Wat Chan Samosorn School, Bangkok
Where were you born?
I was born in Thailand. My dad and mum are Karen workers from Myawaddy, Myanmar. I have three siblings.
Do you have a lot of friends at school?
Yes, I have a lot of friends and 26 classmates. Most of them are Thais. The only two Myanmar students at my school are me and another student in Prathom 3/1.
Are you a good student? What subject do you like most?
My grade was 3.5 last semester. I like maths because there's fun studying it. My teacher teaches well and makes it easy to understand and fun to learn.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I love art and singing and want to be a singer. I can sing only Thai songs because I speak Thai all the time and do not understand the Karen language at all.
Have you ever visited your parents' hometown in Myanmar? Which place between Thailand and Myanmar do you prefer?
Yes, I have. I just went there a few months ago with my parents. It is more naturally beautiful there. But, I like Thailand better because Thai food is more tasty and Thailand has more attractions to go to. I like Khao Din [Dusit Zoo] and the zebras there.
Do you want to return to live in Myanmar?
I do if my parents go back there.
What will you be doing on National Children's Day?
Children's Day is special because there's a lot of fun. On this day every year, my mum and dad take us to the Government House and a palace near Khao Din [Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall].
What is your Children's Day wish?
I wish for a lot of gifts from grown-ups. There are lucky draws at the Children's Day fair at my school every year.
Veeraphan Nualsri
9, a Prathom-3 Thai-Myanmar student
Where were you born?
I was born in Thailand at Vajira hospital. My mother is from Kawkareik, Myanmar, and my father is Thai.
What subject do you like best?
I like art and get the best grade. I also like the performing arts subject because teachers often ask questions and give us sweets when we answer correctly.
Can you speak the Myanmar language?
No. I cannot, I have visited Myanmar twice only. The last time I went there was the summertime when I was in Prathom 2.
What do you think about Myanmar?
I had fun there. Everything is natural in Myanmar. I had a lot of fun running, enjoying water play, buying snacks and feeding chickens there.
Did you play with Myanmar children? Did they treat you as a Thai or Myanmarese?
Yes, I did. They treated me as someone from Myanmar, but we talked to each other in Thai. They were nice and shy. Some of them were naughty and threw sand at me. There were five of them.
Do you want to return to live in Myanmar?
I want to work in Thailand because I know just a few people in Myanmar. But, if my mum moves back there, I will go with her.
What do you want to be when you are an adult?
I have no idea yet. [Pause] I want to be a cook because food is delicious and I usually help my mum [who is a cook at a Thai restaurant].
What will you be doing on National Children's Day?
I am usually at home watching TV and playing games because my mother likes to be home. We are too lazy to go outside. But my mother's boss sometimes takes us to Government House, Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and some other places on Children's Day.
Charlotte Stonehouse
12, Bangkok Prep School Year 8
Where were you born?
Stroud in Gloucestershire, England. When I was two, my family moved to Abu Dhabi, where we lived for seven years. Since mid-2014, we have lived in Bangkok. So, I'm very used to the hot weather.
What do you like about Thailand?
The food such as shrimp fried rice and all the festivals, especially Songkran, because I enjoy joining in with the water festivities.
What is it like to be a big sister?
It's good because I get to take responsibility over Barney and Emmie, who are 10 and eight. For example, our parents can drop us off at the play areas and I can look after them.
Do you want to be a teacher like your parents?
No, I want to be an interior designer. I love creating mood boards and colour schemes for rooms and other designing activities.
Is there a Children's Day in the UK?
In November, there is an annual 'Children in Need' day, when a BBC TV show and lots of charity activities raise funds to help disadvantaged children in the UK.
Who's your hero?
Ed Sheeran because he's a great singer, talented songwriter, very honest, does a lot of charity work and helps anyone that he can.
What would you like adults to do more?
Adults should get to know and learn to use digital technology more so that they stop worrying about kids using technology in the wrong way.
What will you be doing tomorrow on National Children's Day?
What we normally do is spend time as a family and do lots of activities together. Last year, we went to Ancient Siam where we got to see models of important places in Thailand. Tomorrow, we will be going on a family cycling trip at Phra Padaeng.
What is your Children's Day wish?
I wish for all disadvantaged children to be able to have equal education and a better future like other children who are more privileged in the world.
Maximilien Cammaert
10, a CM2 student at Lycée Français International de Bangkok (LFIB)
How long have you been living in Thailand?
This is my sixth year here. Before that, I used to live in Laos, Cameroon and England.
Did you celebrate Children's Day there?
No, we didn't.
Do you know why we celebrate Children's Day in Thailand?
No, I don't know.
What do you like about Thailand?
I like it because it is disorganised. There's always something going on everywhere. And I do also like sticky rice and chicken that they sell on the street.
What do you like to do during free time?
I like to play tag and football with my friends. And we also feed the fish in our pond.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A scientist, maybe. I like nature and I do know a lot about animals.
What is your plan for Children's Day?
We might be going to the National Museum. There's going to be a party there.
Do you have any favourite superhero, singer or public figure?
I do like the rock band Imagine Dragons.
Do you feel adults listen to kids enough?
I think they do listen sometimes. But my brother talks a lot more than me so I don't really get a chance to speak.
Veerakorn Chanpawat
9, Phumdham Learning Center Prathom 3 student
Who is your hero?
Mum and dad, because they take care of me and my younger sister all the time. Wherever we go, they always teach me about a lot of different things all the time.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be an inventor and to create magical equipment like in Doraemon. Especially like the downsizing flashlight, so I can shrink myself to go play into the Lego house I built.
If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?
I'd like to have lots of money, so I can go donate it to Compassionate House For Stray Animals in Thailand.
What do you want to do on Children's Day?
I'd like to go to the countryside where the weather is good and I want to go for a swim.
Why do you think Children's Day is celebrated?
Children's Day is a day for adults to make children happy, but my parents already make me happy every day.
What do you like most about Bangkok? What do you dislike most about Bangkok?
I like how there is a lot of yummy food. But I don't like the traffic and pollution. I wish the air in Bangkok would be more refreshing like in Khao Yai.
Rawit Ammarapala
7, Assumption College (Primary Section)
What does Children's Day mean to you?
A free day without school. There's Father's Day and Mother's Day but not 'Son's Day' so it's good to have Children's Day.
Who is your hero?
My teacher Mr Sean Watson. He teaches me to be a good boy. I wanna be a teacher too so I can teach my students to be good.
How do you want adults to change?
They shouldn't punish kids for not doing their homework. Adults tell you what to do and I don't like it because I want to relax sometimes and then they just tell us to do boring stuff.
Which country do you like to live most and why?
The US. I love New York. There is Central Park and the food is yummy. Sometimes there are also people dressed as cartoon characters walking on the streets and one time I even met Darth Vader at Times Square.
What do you want as a Children's Day gift?
A PlayStation. I never get to play it at home. I have to go to someone else's house to play it.
Jutimongkhon Thanomjit
13, 8th-grader from Phitsanulok Pittayakom School in Phitsanulok
What does Children's Day mean to you?
Children's Day is just an ordinary day on our calendar. So there's nothing special about it.
So it means you don't want anything for this Children's Day?
No.
Who is your hero that you look up to?
My dad. When I am in trouble, he gives me advice. He is always there for me. And I want to be like him.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be an architect. I like to design things.
Which place do you prefer to live, your hometown or Bangkok?
I prefer to work and live in my hometown Phitsanulok. I do not like big cities. They are crowded and hectic.
If there is one thing you could ask adults to change, what would it be?
I want their attitudes changed. I want adults in general to be able to hold their temper better and use more reason when they do things.
What do you like most about Thailand?
I think it's Thai culture and tradition like our respectfulness and how we smile.
What do you hate most about Thailand?
A society where many people feel wrath towards each other.
Akira Sriamnuaychai
9, Bangkok
Where do want to go on Children's Day?
To the science museum. I want to see the show about space.
What do you dislike the most at school?
The food. It's not tasty at all. And I don't like it when the teachers scold us all in a loud voice. It makes the kids scared.
What do you dislike the most in adults?
When they shout at us. I also don't like it when they play with their phones for a long time.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor, because I want to treat people. Also an astronaut, because I want to float in space.
Who's your hero?
Toon Bodyslam, because he wants to help people. And Bie The Ska, a YouTube star whose clips are always creative.
Boonnisa Ratananetra
8, Prathom 3, Marie Witthaya Nontaburi
Where are you going on Children’s Day?
We’re going to donate school supplies for poor students in Phetchaburi province.
What do you dislike the most at school?
I don’t like school lunch. It doesn’t taste good at all.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to become a gymnast, or a gymnastics trainer.
Who’s your hero?
Teacher Ploy, she teaches gymnastics, and she’s so good.
What do you dislike the most about adults?
I don’t like when adults scold me and make loud noise at me.
Neem Abdurahman Mahgoub
14, Crescent International School
Where were you born?
In Thailand, but I grew up in the US with my father. Now I study at an international school in Bangkok. My mother lives here.
Do you know about Children's Day in Thailand?
I don't know anything about it.
What's the difference between a school in the US and in Thailand?
The difference between an American school and a Thai school is that in an American school there is a lot more freedom.
So where do you prefer to live?
I most definitely prefer America than Thailand, mainly because school here is awful.
Who's your hero?
My hero is God.
What's the most annoying thing about adults?
The most annoying thing about adults is when they say 'no' for no reason at all.
What's the most annoying thing about children?
The most annoying thing about other children is when they play around way too much.
