EVER WONDERED HOW CHILDREN HAD FUN BEFORE THE INVENTION OF REMOTE-CONTROLLED CARS, HOME THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS AND THE INTERNET?
One of the things Thai parents did in the past was to walk into their garden and find some palm leaves with which to make a
"pla to pien", or carp mobile. It's no cakewalk for the origami-challenged, but once you get the hang of it, you'll find that plaiting leaves together to make a fish isn't all that difficult.
For babies, these carp mobiles work wonders as they sway back and forth in the wind to slowly encourage sleep. Older children usually have their bit of fun by tying a carp onto the end of a stick and pretending to walk home with their "catch of the day".Who says entertainment needs to be energy-consuming and expensive? With basic skills – and a bit of imagination –batteries and electricity are a luxury we can do without.
