Dad's creative solution to include son with Down syndrome in neighborhood playtime captures hearts

Parents hold a special place in their children's lives; they are not just guardian angels but also their best friends. Embracing the same, a dad decided to make his specially-abled child’s day by organizing games for him in their neighborhood. With the support of his wife Kimberly DowDell (who goes by @kimberly.dowdell on TikTok), dad Devon DowDell teamed up with some teens to bring a unique twist to a kickball game and ended up winning hearts online.

In a viral video that has garnered over 1.4 million views, Devon can be seen cheering on kids gathered in the neighborhood to play with his son Jack. The recently turned 14-year-old has Down syndrome, a condition that delayed his social and mental development. However, to keep his son’s spirits high, the father took matters into his own hands.

The wholesome video further showed Jack kicking the balls while his buddies tried to catch them. The video’s text overlay read, “POV: When your dad who sets up games with the neighborhood so your son with Down syndrome can play too... his smile makes it all worth it.” Additionally, the game rules included a suggestion for an award for the winning team. The side that managed to catch the most balls would be treated to Jack’s favorite beverage, “slushies,” from the local 7-Eleven store. “Word spread quickly about our games, and more kids expressed interest in joining us every evening after my work hours,” the dad told Newsweek. He added that the children would come knocking on their door to inquire about the game every other day. Moreover, the community event has made a significant impact on Jack’s life, as the kids are trying to befriend him by valuing their bond more.

“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," Devon revealed. The less-than-a-minute footage celebrates the relationship shared between the father and son. “Best dad ever! Inclusion matters,” it said. "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," Devon added while speaking to the outlet.

The video concludes with the winners, the dad-and-son duo and other kids driving to the grocery store for slurpees. All the kids appeared excited and posed for pictures as they raised their drinks in what was described as an emotional moment for Kimberley. The heartwarming act has managed to capture wide-ranging reactions from people. @robbyn17171 wrote, “The real heroes are the parents of all these boys for teaching them respect and equality.”

@thelifeofpawny hailed, “Hopefully, they’re friends forever and can recreate this in the future.” “He isn’t just doing this for his son. Some kids in the community, I’m sure, appreciate the brotherhood,” said @jorgereyes565. “This is so heartwarming! This is how you win at being a dad,” commented @maso_huncho14. 

You can follow Kimberley DowDell (@kimberly.dowdell) on TikTok for more parenting content.