A little girl’s joy at her classmate’s graduation is reminding parents what kindness really looks like

The moment is less than a minute long, but it’s been watched more than 14.2 million times.

In a viral TikTok shared by @courtneyspates.girlmom, her young daughter sits beaming in a crown labeled “Grad,” her hands clutched in excitement. She’s at her pre-K promotion ceremony—but her joy isn’t for herself. It’s for her classmate, who is neurodivergent and walking across the stage to receive a diploma.

A few simple words on the screen gently capture the heart of the moment:

“Me always worrying if I’m a good mom, raising a good human.”

“My daughter at her pre-k promotion… absolutely overjoyed for her classmate who is neurodivergent getting his diploma ”

The quiet power of the moment has touched millions of viewers, especially parents of neurodivergent kids. @bnca.ss wrote,

“As a mum of neurodivergent kids, I’m sobbing you’re raising a beautiful soul.”

While @Mary tyke added, “From a special needs mom, you have one empathetic soul there. Good job.”

What makes this video so moving is its authenticity. It captures a child who’s clearly learned—whether at home, at school, or both—how to celebrate others with genuine joy.

Related: 14-month-old sees his mom crying—what he does next will melt your heart

How empathy is modeled, not magically “known”

As parenting expert and clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy explains in her book Good Inside, empathy isn’t an innate trait—it’s a learned skill. Children develop it through consistent experiences: when parents name emotions, model compassionate behavior, and respond to others with understanding. Over time, those patterns help kids internalize empathy as part of how they move through the world.

Moments like this viral TikTok don’t happen by accident. They’re built through daily interactions that teach children to notice, celebrate, and stand beside others—even when the spotlight isn’t on them.

Why this moment matters

For neurodivergent families, graduation ceremonies aren’t always joyful. They can come with stress, overstimulation, or fear that their child might be excluded or misunderstood. So to witness another child cheering—not out of obligation but from the purest place of joy—feels profoundly meaningful.

As one commenter, @Amanda Kras, wrote: “Idc what anyone says, these babies are going to be the most caring, accepting generation yet.”

Related: 5 smart steps for parenting neurodivergent kids

A note to moms watching this and tearing up

To the moms raising kids like this little girl—kids who cheer for others, who feel deeply, who recognize difference without judgment: You’re doing so much right.

And to the moms of children who were walked across that stage, hoping for a single moment of understanding—you were seen that day, too.

This viral TikTok struck a chord because it captured what so many of us are trying to build: a world where kindness comes naturally, inclusion is the norm, and joy is something we celebrate together.