Here is the adorable moment a 6-year-old went shopping with her own money for the first time—and selflessly bought treats for her pet dogs.
Footage shows Harper Sutton-Jennings browsing the supermarket before selecting items for the two family pooches instead of herself.
Harper had earned 12 pounds for helping her mom, Jamie-Lee Birch, make videos for her work as the head of marketing at an antenatal education company.
And to the delight of 11-year-old Theo, a cocker spaniel, and 10-year-old Dylan, a Saluki lurcher, she shunned any toys and comics—and chose to use her hard-earned cash on them.
“She carried her own basket and chose the treats she wanted for them, and I was even more surprised when she wanted to get them not one but two packets,” Ms. Birch, of Gloucester, said.
“And that was all she wanted to buy—she didn’t ask to look at the toys or comics. I was so shocked but also felt so proud of her for doing something so sweet and selfless.
“She spent a total of 2.70 pounds, and she would have spent more, but I said that for now two packets of treats was plenty for Dylan and Theo to enjoy.
“I honestly think she would have spent her entire 12 pounds on them.”
She said that Harper got a little nervous having to go to the till and pay for everything but said it was “exciting” at the same time.
“She did the whole transaction at the till herself, counting out her coins and chatting to the guy working on the till,” Ms. Birch said.
“Even being given a receipt excited her. She explained after that she had been a little nervous but also excited doing it all herself.
“I think it’s great for children to use physical coins like this because it really showed her the value of the money.”
Ms. Birch, who filmed the video on Aug. 31, said she'd needed some help with filming videos for work and agreed to pay Harper 12 pounds if she helped with the video.
“She was so helpful and, as promised, I gave her the 12 pounds—and a little more into her savings account,” Ms. Birch said. “She popped it in her purse, and I didn’t think much more of it.
“That evening I heard her telling our two dogs, ‘I earned my very own money today and I am going to buy you some treats.’”
Ms. Birch didn’t think much of the cute comment to the two pooches until the next day when she asked Harper where she wanted to go on the last day of the school summer holidays.
“[I want to] go somewhere that sells dog treats so I can buy Dylan and Theo some treats,” Harper said.
Despite Ms. Birch offering to buy the dog treats, Harper was adamant that she would do it.
After returning home from the supermarket, she gave both Theo and Dylan a treat each and then stored the snacks under her bed in a “cool and dry place,” as per the packet’s instructions.
Now that she’s back at school, Harper gives both dogs a treat every morning before she goes to class.
“Our friends and family have all commented on how sweet she is,” Ms. Birch said. "She is a very kind kid and will often do things for others.
“For just 6 years old she is extremely thoughtful.”
