From Dancing to Dog Cuddles, 11 Kids Videos That Will Melt Your Heart

There's something undeniably satisfying about watching children discover and experience the unique intricacies of the world around them.

These moments are priceless, treasured by friends and family alike, with smartphone technology making it easier than ever to capture and share the memories. Every now and then, a spontaneously recorded clip will even capture something so heartwarming it warrants sharing with the rest of the world. Thanks to platforms like Twitter, TikTok and Instagram, it's never been easier.

2021 may have been a difficult year for several reasons but it's also been a memorable year for life-affirming viral videos showcasing the simple pure pleasures associated with childhood. From naps alongside the family dog to hearing your mom's voice for the first time, here are 11 videos that will make you laugh—and cry.

1. Boy Dancing Along to Dad's Piano Playing

A 6-month-old boy by the name of August earned the moniker of "Groovy Gus" on TikTok after his mom, music teacher Abby Parker, uploaded a video of her son ecstatically bouncing along in his high chair while his dad plays a jaunty tune on the family's piano.

The clip proved a huge hit, amassing more than 5.5 million views on TikTok and subsequently going viral on Reddit. At one point in the clip, Gus even began trying to play alongside his dad on the piano. As one user noted:"The instinct to groove is so strong." Watch Gus in action here.

2. Little Girl With Laugh Like Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen isn't someone you would necessarily associate with child-friendly content but that all changed back in November when a video emerged on TikTok of a little girl with an uncanny ability to laugh just like the Canadian actor.

Known for his signature raspy, guttural guffaw, the Knocked Up star appears to have met his match if the video posted online by Saruh2themax is to be believed. The fans certainly seem to think so, with the footage amassing 2.6 million views and a glut of praise online. You can watch her super-good impression of the Superbad star here.

3. Girl Realizes Father Is Identical Twin

In August, Nathalie Fooks shared a video showcasing the hilariously sweet moment her infant daughter, Ariah, realized her father was, in fact, an identical twin. Posted to the Instagram account ariah.fooks, the clip shows the adorably confused Ariah looking back and forth between her dad and uncle.

The footage has been viewed more than 37 million times on Instagram with reactions to the baby girl's expression—a mixture of shock, awe and utter confusion—dominating the online discussion.

4. Little Boy's Adorable Reaction to Disney Princesses

When Vanessa Guedert shared a video of her young son, Bernardo, greeting the princesses during a recent trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, she could never have predicted the reaction it would get.

The video sees Bernardo waving and tipping his cap to each of the passing characters in a show of adorably impeccable manners. It evidently struck a chord online with the video amassing some 69.9 million views on TikTok. Guedert told Newsweek: "Bernardo has a pure and sweet soul. The video only shows what he really is: a true prince."

5. Toddler Comforts Dog During Thunderstorm

Dogs are often described as being "man's best friend." Anyone doubting that tag would do well to watch this video which was first shared to Reddit in November. Posted online by Thefairsewing, the clip shows a toddler comforting a young dog during a thunderstorm. The video quickly began melting hearts online and has amassed more than 21,000 upvotes.

In the footage, a young boy in a diaper can be seen stroking the large dog in the corner of a laundry room while a storm rages outside. He begins by stroking the dog's face before putting his arms around the animal to protect it. As one Reddit user commented: "What a brave and sweet child!" The video can be watched here.

6. Autistic 7th Grader Scores His First Touchdown

A middle-school football game provided one of the highlights of the year back in September when a seventh grader by the name of Mike Harris scored his first ever touchdown.

Harris, who was diagnosed with autism, took the ball into the end zone for Tenaya Middle School in a moment that not only drew applause from the watching fans and his teammates but also the opposition.

Footage of the emotional moment was shared to Twitter by Antoine Bishop and quickly blew up with Harris' joyous reaction to scoring proving a particular highlight.

7. Baby Trying Pizza for First Time

Babies are introduced to any number of foods during the weaning process that sees them move from eating liquids to solids. It's a scenario that is ripe for viral video gold and 2021 has proven no different.

The frontrunner in this particular sub-genre comes courtesy of a TikToker by the name of Oh_shoot_girl who went viral after sharing a clip of her baby girl trying a slice of pizza.

In the hilarious video, the baby can be seen taking a bite into the cheesy dough. As she begins to chew, her eyes begin rolling back in her head in near ecstasy as she relishes the takeout treat. Check out the clip here.

8. Toddler's Adorable Reaction After She Does Her Eyebrows

A 3-year-old called Cami earned a raft of new fans after her mom, Colette Louis, shared a video showcasing the aftermath of her young daughter's attempts at applying makeup to her face.

As funny as that was, it was Cami's reaction to her handiwork that proved even more memorable, with the toddler shown approaching a mirror before shouting: "What did I did!?!" She then turned on her mom, calling her a "naughty bird" in a response that had fans in fits of laughter.

Louis told Newsweek: "Cami enjoys watching me do my makeup and sometimes I let her (pretend) to put on blush and lipstick for fun. Somehow she got into my eyeliner and decided to do her eyebrows." "After she called me a naughty bird a few more times we took it off," she added.

9. Boy, 6, Calms Brother, 4, With Breathing Technique

Ellen DeGeneres was among the first to highlight this unique clip showing a 6-year-old boy teaching his brother how to "manage his breathing" before he throws a tantrum. The 21-second video shows the older boy calmly instructing his crying sibling to stay calm using his breathing.

"Again," the 6-year-old says before encouraging his brother to breathe in and out. "See? It helps you calm down," he explains while gently patting him on the back. The California-based mom, who shared the footage, wrote: "My four year old was about to have a whole tantrum and my 6 year old helped him manage his breathing so he could calm down....I'd say I'm doing freaking alright."

10. Girl With Hearing Aid Hears Mother's Voice

Incredible footage of the moment a baby girl was able to hear for the first time, thanks to a hearing aid, was posted to TikTok in November. The clip, which was shared by Christina_pax, showcased a young baby girl's reaction to hearing her mom's voice for the first time.

The little girl looks stunned with her face displaying a range of emotions each more enchanting than the next. Then she begins to smile, prompting her mother to ask: "Is it funny? Yeh, it is funny." The video ends with her mom repeatedly telling her: "I love you." Viewed over 1.1 million times on TikTok, the clip can be watched here.

11. Baby Snuggles Up Next to Puppy

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. That was certainly the case with this video from the TikTok account fordandpalmer which features a newborn baby fast asleep next to a snoozing puppy.

It's an undeniably cute setup with the young child shown swaddled up with their eyes closed alongside their new pint-sized canine friend. "We finally got eight hours of sleep," the caption, evidently written by the tot's parents, reads. "It only took two days to get but whatever." The video had amassed more than 7 million views. You can watch it here.

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