ThaiHealth, wearehappy Host Event to Cut Children's Screen Time in Yala

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) joined forces with the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), the Yala Provincial Administrative Organisation (Yala PAO), and the wearehappy group to host a major public event called the Power of Love, No Screens Fair 2026. The event was held on 12 October 2026 at the Mukmontri Meeting Room, Yala Provincial Administrative Organisation, a large seminar hall able to accommodate a sizeable number of attendees. The main objective of the event was to join forces in building a healthy media ecosystem for young children in the southern border provinces, with local administrators, teachers and parents from Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat attending in large numbers.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Muktar Mata, President of the Yala Provincial Administrative Organisation, who also presented certificates of recognition to 15 early childhood development centres and to model families who had strictly followed the concept. The chairman emphasised the importance of caring for children in the digital age, noting that it is not simply a matter of banning or limiting screen time, but that parents need to create more interesting alternatives for children. Reducing screen time must go hand in hand with increasing play time and restoring good relationships within the family.

Building a learning ecosystem through the "3 Goods" concept

Dr Sommai Boonkliang, M.D., delivered a special address on joining forces for early childhood in the southern border provinces, emphasising the practical application of royally initiated principles to education for children in the area. In addition, Dr Suangthon Nawapon, Director of the wearehappy group, shared her vision that the event's key goal was to combine the healthy media ecosystem strategy with the concept of good media, good spaces and good surroundings. This approach would help draw on local multicultural ways of life to sustainably build intellectual wellbeing for children.

During the panel discussion, Ms Saijai Khongthon, a representative from ThaiHealth, shared her views on the topic of building a healthy media ecosystem around children through multicultural ways of life. She stated that children's screen addiction behaviour is not caused by children alone, but is the result of a surrounding environment that lacks alternative media. Driving forward the concept of safe media is therefore an important tool to help parents deal with this problem effectively. The organisers hope that local agencies will incorporate these activity models into their area development plans going forward.

Activities and workshops to build skills at the event

Activities at the event were varied and focused on giving participants hands-on experience. These began with a parade showcasing creative media made from natural materials, and a teacher talk session giving teachers who have driven change a platform to share their first-hand experiences. There was also an exhibition area and a creative media bank, allowing families to borrow toys drawing on local wisdom to take home for use. Parents and teachers were also able to join workshops to practise designing activities as alternatives to screen time, covering housework, cooking, gardening and traditional knowledge-based activities.

This is of interest to event organisers looking to study approaches to using spaces for social and educational activities, as well as to government agencies and child development professionals who may apply the concept of reducing screen time within their own communities.