Perhaps OP is a man. I wouldn't approach a strange child outside my house, either, unless they were on my property doing something destructive. Better to let my wife handle such situations.

Do you actually think that using "it" to refer to a kid is less discordant than some sane alternative like he/she? Or even just "he" anticipating that the reader will forgive you for using the gender-specific pronoun to refer to a person of unknown gender?

In America that will immediately identify you as a childlifter. Next thing that happens, you'll have to deal with the cops and the court system.