Hearing the cheerful music floating from an ice cream truck is like a siren call for children.
It beckons them, sending them running to their parents for a few dollars as images of ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, and frozen yogurt swirl around in their heads. But what would kids do if they were faced with a decision many of us confront each day: use that money for themselves or help someone who clearly needs it more?
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YouTube personality Meir Kay’s mission is to spread positivity and love. He’s covered a broad range of subjects over the years, but among his most popular videos are the ones that showcase the importance of generosity over self-interest.
That’s the subject of the video below, which serves as a timeless lesson in what it means to be human.
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The social experiment was set up like so: A frozen yogurt truck sits on a busy city street. Seated on the sidewalk is a man disguised as a beggar, with a sign saying, “I need money.â€
One by one, children coax a dollar out of their parents, but as they walk over to the truck, they notice the homeless man sitting nearby.
What would you do?
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One little boy looks at his dollar, at the ice cream truck, and then at the homeless man.
Showing that our children really are so pure, the little boy decides to give his money away!
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But it’s not just this young boy who donates his dollar, it’s all of them (and there’s even a super-cute plot twist at the end).
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Meir made the following commentary on his Facebook page:
Kindness is key! It’s what makes us human and connects us with each other. Whether it’s a dollar, a smile, or genuinely asking someone how they are we can spread kindness in our daily lives and by doing so make this world a kinder place.
One viewer noted how enthusiastically all of the children ran toward their parents afterward, “and with open arms! They knew they did the right thing!â€
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Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we all did this, whether we’re getting frozen yogurt, our third latte of the day, or even throwing perfectly good food out?
Some claim this experiment was staged, while others have defended the integrity of the clip by sharing their own stories of selfless behavior, adding children tend to be more compassionate than adults:
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What do you think? Check out the short clip below and share to spread this beautiful message of helping others in need.
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