Thursday February 29, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. – The Excellence Center for Development of Pre-School Kids, Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, held the merit making. The event was aimed at promoting Thai traditions by offering foods to 3 monks and prayed. Over 100 participants joined, including administrators, teachers, the kids and their parents.
Asst. Prof. Kaewkan Sua-ram, Director of the Excellence Center for Development of Pre-School Kids, Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, explained that the activity was organized for young kids aged 1-4 years to learn about Thai tradition from food offering to monks. The activity demonstrates the identity of Thai people, and the occasion also taught the children to learn how to nurture Buddhism. The food offering merit has been organized for the second time this year. The Center expects to carry out this activity once every semester.
“The food offering merit is an activity that enhances the development of pre-school kids in accordance with the standard set by the National Pre-School Development Institute. Children will develop physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. They will be using the small muscles to move and “wai”, stoop down, pick food items and place them in the monk’s bowl. They also train to line up and wait, pay respect to the elder. Socially speaking, the children learn to be with others that are of different ages. The family also has the chance to spend a good time together. It is not only the father and mother that the Center invited, but also the grandparents.”
Master Mahasamut Siripanuwat or Merlick, a pre-kindergarten pupil of the Excellence Center for Development of Pre-School Kids, said that he used to offer food to monks with his dad before. But today, it is fun, for he offered food with his friends. He believes that he will receive a lot of merit. He will offer foods to monks again at home.”
Dr. Siriporn Lunprom, Mother of Nong Phruek, another pre-kindergarten kid of the Center said that this activity was very good, for it taught children to learn to make merit. Before now, he might understand what “give” meant, but he didn’t understand “merit making”, “food offering”, or “Tham Than”. When asked to go for merit making at a temple, he wouldn’t go. But this time, the activity arranged by the school is interesting. So from now on I think he will join in offering food to monks again.
“Joining this event helps soothing his mind and instilling tenderness in children. I hope the activity will be organized regularly. Children will little by little learn graceful Thai culture. As we know, nowadays many fathers and mothers do not have time and may not be able to take their children to make merit. This activity is good for the children to make merit together and understand more about Thai tradition.”
News: Phanit Khatnak