A dad has been applauded online for becoming his neighborhood's chief games organizer so that his son could also get involved.
In a clip posted in September, Jack, who has Down syndrome, plays kickball with other kids who live on his street, warming the hearts of TikTok users.
Devon DowDell, the proud father and brains behind the game, told Newsweek that as a result of having Down syndrome, Jack is smaller and less physically capable than some of the other children in his neighborhood, which can sometimes make games feel out of reach.
"It's not that the other kids don't want to play with Jack, but they are concerned that he might not be able to keep up or could get hurt in the process," he said.
Determined to create a game where Jack could fully participate, DowDell decided to modify one of his favorite childhood games.
He noticed Jack's impressive ability to kick a ball and decided to center the game around his strengths. DowDell organized the neighborhood kids into teams to catch as many of Jack's kicks as possible, with the winning team earning a sweet prize: slushies from the local 7-Eleven, Jack's favorite treat.
"Word spread quickly about our games, and more kids expressed interest in joining us every evening after my work hours. Children would come knocking on our door to inquire if we were playing that day. It also enhanced their bond with Jack, leading them to greet him more frequently and make an effort to befriend him more often," DowDell said.
The video—shot by DowDell's wife, Kimberly, and posted on the @kimberly.dowdell TikTok account—has since received more than 1 million views and thousands of comments from viewers.
"This is so heartwarming. This is how you win at being a dad," one user commented, while another wrote, "He isn't just doing this for his son, some kids in the community I'm sure will appreciate the brotherhood."
For DowDell and his wife, it has been emotional seeing the kids on their street embrace Jack in this way.
"As parents who are raising a child with special needs, it is a common concern for us to worry about how our children will be treated by others and their friends," he said, adding that the kids' friendliness toward the then-13-year-old has had a significant, positive effect on his life.
"Witnessing this has been incredibly heartwarming for us as parents. A big shoutout goes to these children's parents for the wonderful job they have done in raising such kind and inclusive kids," DowDell said.
He also recalled a small but meaningful moment when two neighborhood boys greeted Jack as they rode by on scooters.
"Jack's face immediately brightened with a beaming grin," DowDell said. "This simple exchange uplifted his spirits, fostering a sense of belonging within the community and reminding him that he had friends."
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