1. PARENTS’ OPINION TOWARD MULTI-AGED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Nattaka Suddhidhanakool Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University Thailand

2. Multi-aged environment matches Thai family-oriented culture 2015 Thailand Draft Budget Breakdown Source: budget bureau – July 15, 2014 Education 19.35%

3. Early childhood education could enhance children development Physical Social Emotional Intellectual

4. Early childhood education center at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

6. Family background younger and older children are similar Group < 4 years ≥ 4 yearsTotal n = 4(%)n = 5(%) n=9(%) Child characteristics Age Mean Age3.134.603.94 SD0.480.550.92 Sex Male125%360%444% Female375%240%556% Family background Parent education < Bachelor degree--- Bachelor degree2.0050%3.0060%5.0056% > Bachelor degree2.0050%2.0040%4.0044% Family size Nuclear family4100%5 9 Extended family---

7. Overall, Parents were satisfied with their children’s development 12345 least most Satisfied

8. Younger children enjoy peer-to-peer learning and advance their intellectual capability from watching older children Lively and joyful to go to school Better problem-solving, organization, and communication skills

9. Greater impacts on satisfaction in physical and emotions were observed in older children Greater self- confidence and express their emotion well More courage and take challenges better

10. Summary Multi-aged classroom fits Thai culture well Overall, parents were satisfied with multi-aged early childhood education of their children Multi-aged classroom provides enjoyable peer-to- peer learning environment to younger children that could greatly enhance intellectual development Older children may benefit most from leadership development they gain from multi-aged education