Seoul's Gangbuk-gu is drawing strong praise from participating children and their parents for its sports activity support project for slow-learning children, which aims to promote healthy development and social skills, district Mayor Jeong Chang-su said.
The district said it has completed the fifth session of indoor climbing, one of the program's flagship activities. Specialist sports instructors from the BAC Center led the sessions, tailoring physical activities to each child's level and helping participants build basic fitness and confidence.
Particularly notable was the on-site presence of trained "slow-learner companion supporters," who provided close emotional support and helped children communicate with their peers. Children who initially struggled to adjust to the new environment have gradually shown positive changes in social skills and self-regulation, including improved peer interaction and rule-following.
The district has also put in place operational guidelines that prioritize children's health and safety in response to the ongoing heat wave. Outdoor activities originally planned in the Bukhansan area will be replaced with comfortable, safe indoor programs to keep the schedule on track.
Alongside this, the district will hold expert lectures for parents to deepen their understanding of slow learners. After the full program concludes, an outcomes-sharing event will be held to reflect on the children's growth and share the project's results.
"It is truly heartwarming to see the children gaining confidence and learning how to get along with their peers through climbing," district Mayor Jeong said. "We will continue to look after them with care throughout the remaining schedule — including running safe indoor alternatives in response to the heat wave and other weather conditions — so that every child can participate in good health and with joy."
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