The Sunflower

Why do children pull up sunflowers. Found this tiny one pulled up from the soil yesterday morning when I went out doors. Didn't bother to put it back in the ground but probably should have. It's filled with seeds that the finches won't get to eat. I brought it onto the porch and placed it in water. I wonder if the seeds can mature this way? I'll see what it does and when the leaves start to die or seeds look different, put it outdoors in a place that birds can find it. Ninety three degrees today and sultry. Watered my garden and came back inside into the air soaking wet.