This document details the experiences of a mother with her son Yuki, who has hydrocephalus, as he works on completing puzzles of increasing difficulty. Through positive reinforcement and guidance, Yuki successfully completes puzzles, improving his problem-solving skills and confidence. The narrative also touches on Yuki's struggle with independence as he learns to make his bed, highlighting the importance of self-reliance.

1. This is my son Yuki. He is 5 1/2 years old. He was born with a condition called hydrocephalus.
His teachers at school told us that Yuki was not working at challenging puzzles. They asked us to
give him a 24 piece puzzle at home.

2. He struggled and asked for help. Instead of helping him, I described the number pieces he had
connected.
"Now you have 3 pieces in."
"Now you have 5 pieces in."
Each time he smiled and kept going. He finished that 24 piece puzzle.
So we gave him a 50 piece puzzle, harder than anything he has done before, and he did that, too.

3. Here he is with a new 100 piece puzzle!
He was very cheerful in the beginning...

4. ...but as you can see he was very frustrated after the 26th piece.

5. He had been working for 20 minutes.

6. He got up and went away.

7. When he returned a day later he added
another 18 pieces.
The following day he was very focused
and eager to complete the puzzle.
He was asking me where each piece
was supposed to go. Instead of
answering his question. I described the
colors on each piece and he started to
group them by color.
In 40 minutes he completed the puzzle
with a big smile.

8. "I did it!"

9. "Mommy, I am happy."

10. In fulfilling the assignment I created a documentation panel that tells the story of my
Project of Understanding.
I put it up on the wall in Yuki's room.
Of course, Yuki looked at it again and again.

11. The story continues when Yuki faces making his bed all by himself:
Yuki: "I can't do it, Mommy. I need help. I want you to do it for me."
Me: "I felt the same way when I was little, but my dad told me that it is important to learn how
to do it by myself. The fitted sheet goes on first."
Yuki: "OK. I will try."

14. 35 minutes later...