When the children taunt Boo by Jem's running and rapping on the side of the house and when they play their game of "Boo Radley," cruelly enacting Boo's life, and when they peep in the window, he does not retaliate although Mr. Radley fires off a shotgun blast. Instead, he gives the children valuable gifts in the knothole of the tree until someone cements it closed and later, after the shotgun is fired and Jem catches his pants and has to remove them in order to flee, the pants are mended and folded neatly on the fence with the same caring affection as when Boo places the blanket on Scout's shoulders.
Clearly, Boo Radley feels kindly toward the children and lives vicariously through them as a sort of passive parent. Through his small interactions, his kindness comes through. Then, when Jem is threatened by Bob Ewell, Boo realizes the danger. Forsaking his own safety, Boo risks personal injury to save Jem and Scout. His goodness and love for the children overcomes his personal fears of his father and of going out of the house. Thus, like a parent, Boo comes to their rescue: "Boo's children needed him."
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