Thailand Bans All Screens for Children Under Two Years
Thailand's government has banned all screen media for children under two years old, with five agencies pledging strict controls to support early childhood development during this critical period for learning and wellbeing.
Five government agencies have announced strict measures to prohibit all screen media for children under two years old, advancing early childhood development by establishing solid foundations during this critical period that impact life quality and learning skills.
On August 21, 2025, at the Ashvin Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok, Deputy Education Minister Akranun Kannikittinan opened the fifth national academic conference on early childhood development titled "Journey Through the Little Galaxy: Reduce, Play, Know – Building Happiness for Thai Preschoolers." The conference was organized by the Office of the Education Council under the Ministry of Education in partnership with network allies, attended by experts, administrators, teachers, caregivers, parents, and representatives from relevant agencies, including Office of the Education Council Secretary-General Prawit Arawwarn, Deputy Secretaries-General Niti Nachit and Supchai Chanpum, and policy adviser Ampha Promwat.
Deputy Minister Akranun stated that early childhood is the foundation of human quality, and human quality is the foundation of national security and prosperity. The government prioritizes early childhood development as a national agenda and has approved a policy proposal of "3 Accelerate, 3 Reduce, 3 Increase" to ensure all Thai children receive age-appropriate development, happiness, and reach their full potential through cooperation from all sectors.
The concept "Journey Through the Little Galaxy" invites Thai society to work together: reduce risk factors to development, promote play to encourage natural learning, and promote knowledge to create correct understanding among families, teachers, and caregivers, leading to sustainable development of Thai children.
On this occasion, five main agencies—the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Interior, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration—jointly pledged to seriously reduce screen media use in early childhood and prohibit it entirely before age two, to promote age-appropriate development in all areas. The guidelines are as follows:
Prohibit all types of screen media, digital media, and digital devices for children under two years old without exception.
Seriously reduce screen media use in children aged two and above. Screen media use must be conditional and under close supervision by parents, guardians, teachers, and caregivers, with controls on mobile phones and digital devices in classrooms.
Require agencies with early childhood development facilities to implement strict measures controlling screen media, digital media, mobile phones, and digital devices in their facilities, while promoting age-appropriate activities and learning experiences.
Secretary-General Prawit stated that the Early Childhood Development Policy Committee and the Education Council, as secretariat, have mobilized all network partners to drive the "3 Accelerate, 3 Reduce, 3 Increase" policy proposal to promote early childhood development in crisis conditions. The Cabinet approved it as a national agenda on March 27, 2024. The conference was held under the concept "Journey Through the Little Galaxy: Reduce, Play, Know" to unite cooperation from agencies and organizations nationwide in exchanging knowledge, experience, and innovation in driving early childhood development.
