Help Special Need Kids/Siblings Learn From Groups

Starting in March 2024, Little Jun began participating in the Orff music classes offered by the An-An Association. At the time, he was only three years old. In March 2025, he also began participating in Clay activity. In the blink of an eye, the An-An Association has already accompanied us for more than two years.

I still remember when Little Jun first joined the Orff music class, he spoke very little and was often jokingly called by Mom the "quietest guy around." During self-introductions, he was always too shy to speak, but in class, he would sit obediently in his own spot and would not run around. When he arrived early at the classroom, he would even help everyone arrange the chairs, and after class, he would take the initiative to help put the chairs away. These seemingly insignificant little things, looking back now, are all footprints of his growth.

We are very grateful that the teachers are always so patient. They let the children go up front by themselves to get their instruments, slowly training them to be brave. Because Little Jun is relatively slow to respond, he often could not keep up with everyone's movements during the dances, so many times Dad and Mom would hold his hands and dance along with him. He would also occasionally get distracted in class, especially because he loved playing with his name tag, which often left Mom both amused and exasperated. But toward the later part of the classes, he was already willing to hold his instrument and play along with the teacher's rhythm. At that moment, Mom truly felt: "My child really seems to have grown up!"

Because Little Jun participated, his younger brother also had the opportunity to join in. His younger brother is very timid, and sometimes Little Jun would take the initiative to lead him up front to get an instrument. Watching the older brother take care of his younger brother, Mom was truly both touched and comforted.

Later, when they started participating in Clay activity, Dad and Mom actually had an even harder time! The two brothers would often play around and throw the clay everywhere, so we could only guide them hand in hand to complete their creations. But the courage practice at the end of every class~~sharing on stage, we saw a huge change. From not saying a single word at all in the beginning and turning his back to everyone, to gradually being willing to answer with his name, and now being able to say: "Hello everyone, I'm Little Jun!" He can even answer the teacher's questions and finally say: "Thank you, everyone!" These few short sentences may seem simple, but to us, they represent the courage our child worked so hard for over such a long time to gain.

I have always remembered the songSeedscreated by the Orff music teacher. There is a line in the lyrics: "Wait with love, and let the flowers bloom." I feel that children are like seeds. Perhaps their pace of growth is different from others, but all we can do is slowly nourish them with love, patiently wait, not rush them, and believe that one day, they will surely blossom in their own way.

Thank you to the An-An Association for accompanying our child all the way, and for accompanying us parents as well. Thank you to every teacher for using patience and love to help our child bravely take one small step after another. Perhaps every flower has its own blooming season, but as long as we wait with love, one day, Little Jun's flower will also slowly bloom.