PROMOTING CO-EXISTENCE

Relearn Festival uses play and dialogue to address the growing generational divide and foster understanding

- STORY & PHOTOS: THANA BOONLERT

While parents were sitting on picnic blankets, kids were romping with laughter reverberating across the yard. Stationed according to their own age in an arcade, players hit flashing buttons to create notes as fast as possible — hence rearranging popular songs with melodies of different generations.

"It is a playground for all. Families can spend quality time together," said Panu "Poppy" Chiragun, co-founder of LittleLot, a company that designs learning experiences for kids through play. Panu is also a former member of the famous boy band K-OTIC from the 2000s.

Inter-Gen Playground was part of Relearn Festival 2025 that wrapped up at Museum Siam earlier this year. It was held under the theme of "Intergeneration" by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Mappa and partners.

"Because Thailand is already an aged society, demographic shifts are leading to a significant generation gap. While adults prefer to keep things the same, young people demand more freedom. Family tension impacts children's mental health," said Nattaya Boonpakdee, senior director of the Child, Youth and Family Wellbeing Support Office of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

Last year's survey by Rocket Media Lab and the Path2health Foundation showed that children suffer from parental pressure (43.90%), lack of parental support (9.88%) and family fighting (9.59%).

"It is urgent for stakeholders to create a healthy ecosystem for children. We have organised this festival for the third year to promote a better understanding of generational differences through various activities, such as play, workshops and talks," she said.