A heartwarming video shows classmates cheering on Parker, a boy with Down syndrome, as he walks for the first time in front of them.
Most of us, at some point in our lives, need support from loved ones to overcome hurdles and regain the strength to move ahead, especially during a rough patch. The support we get from someone we know, either friends or family members, can be helpful. In a similar way, a young boy, Parker, diagnosed with Down syndrome, was backed by his classmates after he almost miraculously started walking in the classroom. The kid’s mom, Leanne Constable—who goes by @parkersjourney08 on Instagram—shared the heartwarming moment captured by an educator during school hours.
In a viral video that has garnered over 4 million views, the kid with the developmental disorder can be seen walking for the first time in front of his classmates. Parker’s mom, through her social media, dedicated to documenting her son’s journey, referred to the activity as a “precious moment.” Notably, due to cognitive delays, children with Down syndrome achieve this developmental milestone somewhat late in comparison to the average walking age. The cute-looking boy with well-groomed hair, donning an all-blue school uniform, was initially cheered on by his teacher.
“Look! Parker is walking,” she said, pointing to the other kids inside the classroom. Furthermore, the video showed Parker taking courageous steps, carefully maintaining composure without the help of any external support. “Go! Parker, go,” his classmates were heard raising the slogan while clapping for him. The kid successfully managed to reach his table and chair on the other far end of the classroom. Parker’s mom, Leanne, later penned her emotions in the video’s caption. She said the moment had filled her heart, knowing more about her son’s “wonderful classmates.”
Constable from Wales, United Kingdom, expressed that she was proud of her son for working hard despite all the difficulties and challenges he faced during the prestigious school years. Additionally, the mother is also actively taking part in his son’s journey by sharing his progress with a supportive online community. “One of my biggest fears for Parker is that as he grows up, he won’t be included and accepted because of his differences. Hearing his little friends cheer him on and knowing how happy they were for him makes my heart burst and gives me so much hope for the future,” the mother added in the caption.
The video has garnered massive support on social media as people shared their sweet take on Parker and his mom. @okeefe_lisa commented, “I saw this last night on your stories and had a tear in my eye. You must be so proud, especially listening to his classmates cheer him on.” “I wish some grown-ups could take a leaf out of young children’s books,” @davieshelenmary added. Appreciating the little boy’s company, @naeblanco lauded, “Amazing job from yourselves as parents to the teachers to his classmates.” @kellhubbell shared, “As an exceptional student education (ESE) teacher, who helps kids participate in the mainstream classroom, this is why our ESE students are so important! They are out there teaching others to love and accept and just be amazing human beings!”
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You can follow Leanne Constable (@parkersjourney08) on Instagram for the latest on Parker’s journey and more parenting content.