If forced to put Phuket into one category, it’s safe to say it would be labeled a holiday island. After all, nearly everything on the island revolves around the tourist industry directly or indirectly. While this largely remains true, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a slight shift towards a growing permanent population. Both the expat and Thai population in Phuket have grown considerably in recent years. Demographic data can be hard to come by, but families make up a noticeable segment of the expat population.
The answer to the question of whether Phuket is a good place to raise kids is subjective of course. Every parent has their own criteria for what constitutes an environment that they believe is ideal, or at least beneficial, for their kids. Exploring what a parent’s highest priorities probably are is a good place to start as one searches for an answer to this question.
Safety
Image by wirestock on Freepik
It goes without saying that a child’s safety is every parent’s number one priority. Again, one has to compare Phuket to their home country to determine what safe means to them, but Phuket is generally a safe place for kids. Any kind of kid-specific crime like kidnapping is extremely rare. You’ll see local and expat kids exploring beaches on their own and the vast majority of the island’s residents would help or intervene if a kid needed help.
Some dangers that kids might encounter are more along the lines of busy roads and venomous animals. Parents should be extra cautious with young kids around roads. Even in seemingly safe residential neighborhoods some drive exceedingly fast. With regards to animals, Phuket is home to stinging insects like centipedes and scorpions as well as its fair share of snakes like cobras and vipers. Teaching kids how to identify and live alongside these animals is key.
Regardless of how safe it is, kids always have a way of getting hurt or sick and when that time comes, we are fortunate to have solid healthcare options on the island. Wherever you live on the island, you will be reasonably close to a pediatrician or hospital.
Education
Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
While this might not be quite as crucial with very young kids, families who want to stick around Phuket for a while will inevitably need to educate their kids. Nowadays there are a range of schooling options from the more elite international schools which follow British or American curriculums, to Waldorf and local temple schools, and everything in between. The choice will be influenced by your budget, personal preference, and where you live on the island, but there are enough options to meet most parents’ needs.
Community
Image by Freepik
As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Kids need friends, activities, positive influences, adventures in nature, and interactions with inspirational people. All of these attributes can be found in Phuket. Kids have the opportunity to make friends from all over the world, interact and learn from other cultures, and learn to speak different languages. Since there are many families on the island, there are many options to keep kids entertained and engaged whether it’s sport, music, art, or education.