Little girl’s sweet dance recital moment shows the power of inclusion

A heartwarming moment captured on TikTok is resonating with millions, offering a gentle reminder of how easy and impactful inclusion can be—especially for children.

The now-viral video, posted by @annastasiaramcas5, has garnered over 13 million views. It features two young girls dressed in sparkly pink tutus during a dance recital. One of the girls begins stimming—a common self-regulating behavior often associated with autism—by flapping her hands and bouncing with excitement. Instead of hesitating, the other little dancer joins right in, mimicking her partner’s moves with a smile as they hold hands and laugh.

The overlay text on the video reads: “Thank you to the little girl who continued to dance with my daughter even though she was stimming

.”

The simplicity of the moment has captured hearts, with parents, neurodivergent individuals, and educators flooding the comments to share their thoughts.

The comments say it all

“Nah girl we in this together, this is OUR dance,” wrote @katrinarios0612, summing up the power of this small yet mighty act of solidarity. The comment has already racked up over 26,000 likes.

Another commenter, @Winter, shared a personal anecdote, writing,

“My kid copies my stimming and does it with me .” 

For many, this kind of peer acceptance is deeply validating. Kids don’t just tolerate differences—they embrace them, making behaviors that are often misunderstood feel completely normal.

But perhaps @Tamia Nuria’s observation best encapsulates the energy of the video: “Exactly, children don’t know judgement. Just vibes,” she wrote.

Another commenter, Ruth, echoed the sentiment, sharing:

“This is why I love littles. One of my students was stimming on the floor and another kids sat down in front of him and joined in .”

Related: Learning and growing alongside my child, a musician on the autism spectrum

Why moments like this matter

Acts of inclusion like this go far beyond the recital stage. According to experts, fostering empathy and understanding during childhood can have a lifelong impact on how individuals approach diversity and inclusion.

A dance teacher in the comments, @Alex, confirmed this firsthand:

“I teach littles, and they will always follow whoever looks like they’re having the most fun. Sometimes it’s the teacher, but whoever is stimming usually takes over. We just regroup after a minute .”

And the science backs it up. A study published in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association  (ASHA) found that when neurotypical children interact with autistic peers in natural settings, they’re more likely to develop inclusive behaviors. Research also suggests that young children model their peers’ behaviors more readily than they internalize direct instruction on inclusion. That’s what makes moments like this so powerful—kindness and acceptance, learned in real time, through action rather than explanation.

Additionally, research from the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders suggests that early peer interactions play a key role in shaping long-term social attitudes. These findings reinforce the importance of creating opportunities for children to engage in inclusive, organic social experiences like the one captured in this viral video.

A study published by Yale School of Medicine—one of the most comprehensive reviews to date, analyzing over half a million students worldwide—underscores how early exposure to social-emotional learning (SEL) affects everything from friendships to ethical reasoning. The takeaway? Kids don’t just learn inclusion—they live it.

Related: My son has autism: Here are 5 things you can do to help families like ours thrive

The takeaway for parents

Moments like this remind parents that inclusion doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with simple things: encouraging kids to ask questions, celebrating their natural empathy, and embracing their ability to adapt in real time.

Because sometimes, the most powerful lessons come from the tiniest dancers.