Beyond the Golden Buzzer: What Nene Royal’s historic victory teaches us about nurturing children

Thai philosopher and social development scholar Dr. Seri Phongphit says the recent success of 16-year-old singer Nene Royal should not lead parents to force children into intensive training.

Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, known as Nene Royal, became the first Thai contestant to win America’s Got Talent on September 23. While her victory has prompted many parents to consider enrolling children in music academies to find the next prodigy, Dr. Seri warns that this could be a misunderstanding of her journey.

Dr. Seri, who founded Life University, suggests that true education must respect the dignity of every child rather than focusing on standardized outcomes or metrics. He advises parents not to force children into activities, noting that growth should be based on whether the child enjoys the process.