Ever watch your kid’s face light up—literally—from a toy and wonder what’s *really* going on inside? We see the bright screen, the fun app, but there’s a whole hidden universe making it all happen. And right now, the map of that universe is being redrawn in the most incredible way, and it’s got me thinking about the stories we tell our kids about how their world works! What an amazing journey we’re on as parents, helping our little ones discover these mysteries of technology!
What Is Thailand’s ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Tech Shuffle?
Okay, so get this! News is buzzing that Thailand is becoming a global powerhouse for something called Printed Circuit Boards, or PCBs. It might not sound as glamorous as a new gaming console, but trust me, this is HUGE! Think of PCBs as the super-detailed city maps or nervous systems for every single electronic device we own. Companies like Victory Giant Technology and Gold Circuit Electronics are racing to build massive new factories there, part of a global strategy called “China + 1” to make sure the world’s supply of these essential parts is strong and diversified. It’s a massive investment boom, a total game-changer, and it’s happening right now!
Imagine planning a perfect family road trip—you check multiple routes, find backup attractions, and make sure all the car maintenance is done long before departure. That’s exactly what these companies are doing with PCB production! Thailand for years has been the go-to place for beautiful beaches and amazing street food, but now it’s also becoming a tech powerhouse how cool is that? My daughter loves making kimchi with her grandma in Vancouver and sharing photos with her cousins in Seoul while Facetiming—just what childhood magic is all about! She gets a kick out of showing her Canadian friends the Korean word for “delicious” (맛있어!) and vice versa, creating her own little fusion of 두 나라의 맛 (taste of two countries)—just like those new factories blending traditional Thai strengths with cutting-edge technology!
So how does this incredible tech story connect to our kids’ lives and our parenting journey? Well, hang tight ’cause I’m about to make that connection!
How Do PCBs Act as Invisible Heroes of Our Digital World?
This whole thing just fills me with awe. We celebrate the brilliant minds who design the software, but what about the incredible, intricate hardware that makes it all possible? That tablet for road trips? Powered by a PCB. The dashboard in the family car? Yep, PCB. These little green boards are the unsung heroes connecting everything. The news from Thailand, with its new factories running at full capacity, is a powerful reminder that for every piece of ‘magic’ we see on a screen, there are teams of people and amazing feats of engineering happening behind the scenes. It’s a beautiful lesson in appreciating the foundational work—the stuff that isn’t always in the spotlight but holds everything else up.
Last weekend, my daughter was completely fascinated by an old remote control I took apart. She kept asking “what’s this?” “what does that do?” as we looked at the tiny parts inside. There was a wonder in her eyes that reminded me so much of my own childhood when my dad would show me how things worked. It’s those quiet moments of discovery that build such strong foundations for learning—just like those green circuit boards hidden inside all our devices. In a world where everything sometimes feels instant, don’t we owe it to our kids to help them understand the journey behind the destination?
How Can Parents Spark Real Curiosity Beyond the ‘On’ Button?
So how do we bring this incredible global story home? We can start by changing the conversation! Instead of just handing over a device, what if we sparked a little wonder? ‘Hey, how cool is this! How do you think the power gets from the battery to the screen?’ We don’t need to have all the answers! The goal isn’t to raise a generation of electrical engineers (unless they want to be!), but a generation of curious minds who ask ‘how?’ and ‘why?’. Let me tell you, that’s EXACTLY what our kids need right now! Just look at cars—the number of chips in a new vehicle is set to double from around 500 to over 1,000. The systems are getting more complex, and understanding the building blocks is becoming a superpower.
We’ve started a little tradition in our house: “Wonder Wednesday” where we look at something ordinary—like a toaster or a nightlight—and try to guess what’s inside and how it works. My daughter loves drawing her theories, and we have so much fun seeing how close she gets to reality! It’s not about being “right”—it’s about building that ability to question, to investigate, to be amazed by the world around us. In today’s AI in education landscape, isn’t that the real skill we want to develop in our kids? Curiosity has no borders—it’s the universal language of childhood! Just like how my daughter switches between English and Korean when talking to different relatives, curiosity bridges cultural gaps and connects us all!
What Does ‘China + 1’ Teach Us About Building a Resilient Mindset?
The whole ‘China + 1’ strategy is really about building resilience by not putting all your eggs in one basket. And WOW, what a powerful metaphor for parenting! In a world that’s changing at lightning speed, we can encourage our kids to have their own ‘plus-one’ strategy for their skills and passions. It’s not just about learning to code. It’s about coding plus creative storytelling. It’s about art plus understanding basic electronics. It’s about building with blocks, getting their hands dirty, learning to collaborate, and solving messy problems. As industry veteran Martin Leou pointed out, the biggest challenge for Thailand’s new PCB industry is cultivating enough talent. The future belongs to the kids who can connect the dots between different fields, who are flexible, and who see the whole picture, not just the shiny screen.
Two years ago, we were visiting my family in Vancouver when my daughter suddenly decided she wanted to learn Korean. I didn’t speak much myself, so we started saying simple words together during meals—and suddenly she was teaching phrases to her little friend back home. Now she draws pictures with Korean and English labels—a regular little bilingual artist! Who would have thought this little girl who loves building with magnetic blocks would also be drawn to language learning? It’s amazing how AI in education could translate for us, but it was her own curiosity that led to this beautiful fusion of cultures. Thailand’s tech boom is like that—taking existing strengths and weaving in new possibilities to create something stronger, more resilient than before!
Where Do Our Kids Fit in This Globally Connected World?
This is what gets me SO excited! This isn’t just an economic story; it’s a story of human potential and global connection. Thailand is positioning itself as a leader, creating over 20,000 jobs and becoming a top-five global hub for a technology that powers our future. It’s a fantastic, hope-filled example that innovation and opportunity can blossom anywhere. It shows our kids that the world is vast and full of possibilities far beyond what they see in their daily routine. From a factory in Ayutthaya to the tablet in their hands, they are part of an incredible, interconnected global family. And our role? To cheer them on, to fuel their curiosity, and to remind them that they have a part to play in building that amazing future, one connection at a time.
Imagine this: my daughter video-chats with her grandma in Korea while cooking virtually together—sharing kimchi recipes passed through generations while embracing new technology. The cool thing is she’s also video-calling her grandma in Canada to share her latest LEGO creation! She takes Korean classes in Vancouver and plays with friends from all over the world on her tablet (within hours, of course!). That’s the real potential of our globally connected world, isn’t it? The best of tradition meeting innovation to create something beautiful for our children’s future! Like that special combination of kimchi and fresh Canadian seafood my daughter calls 두 나라의 맛 (which means “taste of two countries”)! Doesn’t that perfectly describe what’s happening in Thailand right now?
So you see, Thailand’s PCB boom isn’t just about circuit boards—it’s about showing us how to nurture curious, resilient global citizens. When we encourage our kids to ask questions like “how does this work?” and “why is that happening?”, we’re helping them develop skills that will serve them in any future they choose. The green circuits powering Thailand’s factories and our kids’ tablets have something in common—they connect different elements to make something magical happen, just like how our discoveries connect technology, culture, and parenting. Let’s keep nurturing that curiosity, our kids’ natural superpower that will help them navigate whatever comes next in our amazing, interconnected world!
Source: Thailand carves out a less-glamorous AI niche: printed circuit boards, Nikkei Asia, 2025/09/02