Related agencies have launched a campaign to encourage children to read during their school vacation, with reading touted as a means to ease tension and to fight depression.
“We have already come up with a list of recommended books,” Sudjai Promkerd from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) said. Most schools in Thailand usually close from March to mid-May every year.
Sudjai added that the list recommends books for different age groups, such as from birth to six; from six to nine; and from nine to 12 years old.
“The list also includes local and foreign literature,” she said, adding that reading provides pleasure, eases stress and reduces depression.
“Research shows that people who read know themselves better and develop greater sympathy for others,” she said.
ThaiHealth is conducting the campaign in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and National Library.
National Library director Kanok-orn Sakdadej said fun reading events will be organised at the library every day, while Visal Kong-ngern, a senior BMA official, said reading will be promoted at BMA’s 35 libraries and at the Bangkok City Library.
“We are also making five mobile libraries available,” he said.
