When you think about kids and strangers, the first thing that probably comes to mind is "stranger danger" and the importance of protecting little ones from predators. But while educating children about how to stay safe is definitely crucial, as parents, we also need to remember that not every "stranger" out there is a potential threat; in fact, some people really do have good intentions.
In a video posted on June 5, a little boy just had a once-in-a-lifetime interaction with a stranger who did something super kind for him, out of the goodness of his heart — and it's safe to say the boy will never forget the experience. Apparently, he spotted a stuffed sloth at Cabela's that he absolutely "fell in love" with, and he was super upset when he had to leave the store without it. That's when an "older gentleman" decided to make his day!
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"There still is good people in this world!" wrote Jessica Root . The way this boy reacted to the man's gift proves that he absolutely deserved the stuffed animal ! It clearly meant so much to him. Commenters were reminded of their own experiences with thoughtful strangers.
"Someone did this for me at a state fair when I was little and I've never forgotten it," wrote Moose and Madi.
"One time I was playing a claw machine and I got the stuffie but I dropped it and it landed right on the edge of the hole, so an older gentleman stuck his hand in the machine and grabbed it for me," wrote Cory Peter.
"Some teen boys at the state fair did this for my at the time 3 y/o niece when they won a huge elephant plush. I managed to get a photo of her reaction and it's still my favorite to this day," wrote laney.
Related: Single Dad Thanks Stranger In the Airport for Stepping up to Play With His Kids
If only everybody in the world was like this sweet sloth-buying man!
How to Raise Kind Kids
When it comes to raising kind and thoughtful children , psychiatrist Kelli Harding, M.D. told Parents that "the most important thing" you can do is to set a good example .
"We can't control their behavior, but we can look for ways to demonstrate kind behavior ourselves."
Kids watch the way you treat other people, "from subtle interactions, such as putting your phone down to make eye contact and say thank you to more tangible acts of kindness, like inviting a lonely person to share a holiday, bringing a meal to a sick neighbor, comforting the bereaved, and donating time and money to take care of people in need."
Naturally, it's crucial to be kind to your kids, too.
"As Dr. Harding puts it, 'Our intuition tells us a lot about kindness.' This means trusting empathy over whatever parenting 'shoulds' are in your head. That might look like keeping your baby in your arms because she just wants to be held or like returning to the store to buy a little someone that Lion King pencil after all — not because your son is crying, although he is, but because you genuinely hadn't realized how important it was to him."
Chances are the boy in this video will grow up and demonstrate the same kindness that was shown to him!
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