Timosha

Growing Up With Love

It’s not easy to be a special kid in this world, and it’s even harder when your country is at war. Every challenge becomes bigger, and even simple things take more time and effort. But I keep going - and I’m learning something new every day.

• I love my mom and dad, and I like spending time together with them. We read books, sing songs, or go for walks when the weather is nice.
• I also love my brothers and sisters — and they love me, protect me, and always play with me. And guess what? I have lots of them! I have two older sisters and three older brothers! I can even remember all their names!
• I really like living creatures, sea animals, and especially dinosaurs. Rrarr!
• I also love watching cartoons and movies. "My Neighbor Totoro" is my favorite cartoon — it feels magical! And "Jurassic Park" is my favorite movie, because… dinosaurs!

But Most of All, I Love to Draw and Paint!

When I feel sad or upset, art is the one thing that helps me calm down and feel safe again. Drawing makes my world brighter, and it helps me understand my feelings.

• I like to draw with colored pencils, crayons, and a paintbrush. I can spend hours creating different animals, birds, insects — and of course dinosaurs. Rrarr!
• Sometimes my mom and dad help me with the first lines of a drawing, but most of the time I decide on my own what I want to draw and how I want it to look.
• I’m also learning art with a tutor in a special center for hero-kids like me. My tutor is very kind and patient; she helps me try new materials and teaches me new drawing techniques.
• You can see some of my drawings and crafts in the Gallery - please check them out! :)

I Would Love to Have Many Friends and Go to School

I really want to have many friends and go to school like other kids. But because of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I cannot speak properly yet.

Together with my mom and dad, I am learning all the basic skills and discovering the most important things about the world.

• I love listening when my mom and dad read to me. I enjoy looking at pictures of animals and all kinds of amazing creatures. I am also learning to read by myself. It’s really hard sometimes, but I try my best — because I want to understand everything I see in the pictures.
• I’m learning to count too. When I was 4, I could count to 100 all by myself, in both Russian and English!
• I learned the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets when I was 3 years old, and I can even say all the letters in reverse order. My mom and dad were so surprised when they heard it for the first time! He-he-he :)

My Special Teachers Who Help Me Grow

For many years I’ve been studying with special “hero trainers,” and I’ve made a lot of progress. I hope that one day I will be able to speak freely and share all the beautiful things I see, feel, and understand.

• With my speech therapist, I am learning how to pronounce words correctly, build sentences, and create simple stories about the pictures I see and the world around me. My teacher, Maria, is very kind and calm, but also firm when she needs to be. She helps me learn how to speak, and I am very grateful to her.
• In my sensory integration classes, I practice physical exercises, coordination, and agility. My trainer, Alexandra, is cheerful and full of energy. Every lesson with her feels like an exciting, active game with quests and challenges. I not only complete the exercises, but also learn to name all the actions I am doing.
• With my art therapist, I get to do what I love most — draw, sculpt, and create.We work with colors, shapes, different materials, and various art techniques. My tutor, Alina, is kind, calm, and very attentive. She helps me express myself through art, and I always feel safe and inspired during our lessons.