Job ad offering 45,000 Baht for nanny shocks Thailand
A Facebook post has stunned Thailand after advertising a nanny position for an eight-year-old boy with a deeply troubling past. The offer promised 45,000 Baht a month — plus extra for food and expenses — if the carer agreed to look after the child in their own home. Even if the nanny stayed in the employer’s house, the salary was set at 35,000 Baht, far above the average childcare wage.
But beneath the attractive numbers came chilling details. The boy, according to the ad, had crushed a classmate’s fingers with a rock at the age of six and killed a cat. Now, at eight years old, he was described as obedient yet still “very problematic.” When punished, the ad noted, he only smiled.
High IQ but disturbing behaviour raises fears
The most disturbing revelation was that the boy had an IQ of 150 — classified as highly gifted — yet reportedly showed “a slightly cruel streak.” The poster, who described herself as too young to raise him properly, was searching for someone willing to accept his violent tendencies and live with him anywhere in Thailand.
Reactions on social media were immediate and fierce. Hundreds of Facebook users commented, urging psychiatric intervention rather than a nanny. Many warned that the boy could pose a danger to both people and animals without urgent professional help.
Family tragedy behind the child’s care
In a follow-up, the poster clarified that the boy was not her son but the child of her late father’s employee. After the death of his family, she had taken responsibility for him. Still, the controversy exploded online, with the post deleted soon after and the user’s Facebook account deactivated.
The case has reignited debate over Thailand’s response to mental health issues. A recent national health report revealed that more than 13 million Thais suffer from psychological problems, with suicide rates rising — especially among 15- to 29-year-olds.
Experts urge psychiatric support for troubled children
Mental health specialists stress that stress, family conflict, and stigma exacerbate behavioural problems in young people. For children showing violent tendencies, they say, early intervention by trained psychologists is essential. Discipline alone is not enough — nor is hiring a caretaker to supervise them.
The case of this eight-year-old boy highlights an unsettling truth: high intelligence and violence can exist side by side. But experts agree on one point — instead of a 45,000 Baht nanny, what this child urgently needs is professional therapy before his behaviour causes even more harm.