Thread: Are you living in bangkok with children?

What is it like to be living in Bangkok with children? I'll be coming with my 11 yo child in august and just wondering if anyone has any pearls of wisdom to share with me in preparation?

Did your child/ren adjust well? Pick up the language? Do they feel safe? What do they miss the most about their homeland? What do they like/dislike the most about bkk? Anything I should definitely bring with me? Anything I should definitely buy when I'm there? Anything I can do that will help my child adjust?

Great, thanks for that

So, why is it such an awful place for children?

Originally Posted by Unwell

a tough city to be a kid in, stuck in some piddly little condo, plugged into the playstation...

How is ken these days? ...

You haven't mentioned education. If you have the dosh, th best thing would be to put her into one of the better International schools here, such as ISB, Bankok Patana, Harrow, etc. Second option is an English program in a Thai school - cheaper but varuable in quality and still run by Thai damin under the Ministry of Education. At least at school she can mix with other kids in an english speaking environment. Thai kids would take to her pretty well I reckon and she should make lots of friends. I wouldn't want to raise my kid right in Bangkok, but many of these schools are outside of Bkk. The city itself is crowded and smelly - fit only for shopping, which is what I mainly go there for. Around my village are mainy ricefields, but only 30 minute drive to Victory monument in town.

Hi,
Your message sound so positive about raising children around Bangkok that I had to write to you. I’m currently in the United States and am engaged to a Thai woman from Surin who has a 4 year old little boy. I am currently starting the process of applying for teaching jobs so I can come to Thailand and be with them for a year or two until I can get them back to the United States. Because she lives one hour outside of Surin and in a very rural area, living and working there wouldn’t be practical. So I have been thinking that perhaps working and living in Bangkok would be the way to go initially and then progress from there. I have been concerned a bit about bringing the little boy to Bangkok to live. Before January, he had never even been away from rural Surin and he even exhibited that a few times, once when he went pee on a tree in a park in Bangkok…hahaha. We were so embarrassed but I said to my fiancé that we need to get this boy to civilization….haha. Anyway, after reading you post online I feel that it is do-able raising a little boy in the city. I have been to Bangkok a number or times and I know there is plenty to do for both adults and children, you just have to be willing to do them together and you need to use your imagination too. Do you feel one area is better to live than another? I know I will have to be able to live near some public transportation so I can get to the school to teach, but I also know from living in cities in the USA that location can be crucial. I have also contacted a personal friend that lives in Bangkok and asked for his and his families opinion, but I read your posting and I thought…..I have to message this woman, she seems to know what is what. Maybe Bangkok isn’t the best place; maybe Chiang Mai would be better. I have spoken to people that teach in Pattaya and do very well. I know a lot depends on the parents and setting in which you have at home, but location is important too. This little boy is going to be my second son in a year or two and I already have a 19 year old son who is a music major in college in the United States and he is my pride and joy and he is just a great kid. So I feel confident I can be as equally good with my new stepson. Even at 4 years old, he’s simply amazing, even when he’s not peeing on park trees….haha. I look at the little boy and what he does at his age and all I can say is WOW. His mother has had a very difficult life and even though she has not been around much because she has been the breadwinner of the immediate family, she and the mother have done a good job in the four years. Now that we have been together over the past year, things have changed for the better.
Anyway, because I’m just starting and want to get established when I come over on September 11th, I figure I will contact people that really make me think “Hey, he/she really has it together” and get their input on their thoughts and beliefs of the city and Thailand in general. Can you give me any words of wisdom, either positive or negative about bringing this little boy to Bangkok?
Any information is going to be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much in advance.,
Nhscotsman

Originally Posted by aging one

It all depends on where you live. Its that simple. Bangkok is a megalopolis and you can live in the center or on the outskirts, where I do. The key is how to get in to BKK proper when you need to. My kids have had a great life growing up here, but very different from mine as a child. Need advice feel free to pm I have 9 year old twins.