Surprise is a secret weapon in the communicator’s toolbox.
Wonder fuels learning — discover how surprise moments boost engagement and memory!
Ever planned a surprise party? Or better yet — ever been the one surprised?
Everyone loves surprises! Surprise dates. Surprise bonuses. Surprise presents after you thought you’d opened the last one. Surprise discounts at checkout. Surprise upgrades on a flight or at a hotel. Those unexpected acts of kindness — like someone showing up with your favorite coffee just because. And of course, who doesn’t love a good movie with a surprise twist ending?
There’s something thrilling about the unexpected. It wakes us up. It locks a moment into our memory. It makes the ordinary unforgettable.
That same principle is powerful in kidmin: Surprise is a secret weapon in the communicator’s toolbox. It instantly reignites curiosity, resets attention, and supercharges engagement.
Remember screensavers? Back in the day, if a computer sat idle too long, a screensaver would pop up to protect the monitor. You had to tap the keyboard or bump the mouse to get the regular screen back.
Well, kids have an internal screensaver too. When your teaching gets repetitive or boring, they check out — mentally — even if they’re still looking at you. Suddenly they’re thinking about what they had for breakfast, or what game they’re going to play later, or why sloths are so slow. You’ve lost them. They’re staring, but they’re not there.
How do you bring them back?
You “bump the mouse.” In other words — you SURPRISE them.
Suddenly play a video they weren’t expecting. Have a guest burst into the room unannounced. Interrupt yourself with a silly sound effect or a dramatic whisper. Use a mystery box, like my mom did every week with a song that went, “This is my box, this is my box, what’s in my box tonight?” She’d pull out something new and unexpected every time — and we loved it.
Take the class on a walk. Change the setup of the room. I once led a group up to the church roof to talk about the friends who lowered their paralyzed buddy through the ceiling to Jesus. It’s something those kids will never forget.
Even something as simple as a fake “accidental” tech glitch — that leads into a surprise video message from a puppet, a missionary, or a Bible character — can jolt kids back into curiosity.
But here’s the key: Don’t overuse surprises. If everything is a surprise, nothing is. Use them sparingly — maybe once a month — and they’ll retain their magic.
Ask yourself regularly: “What could I do this week that would totally surprise my kids?” The answer to that question might just change the impact of your entire lesson.
Luke 5:26 says, “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’”
What if your kids left church saying the same thing?
As Socrates said, “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” And in kids ministry, wonder is the doorway to deeper learning. Surprise moments are often what kids will talk about years from now — and what God will use to plant truth in their hearts.
And don’t announce surprises. That ruins them. The moment you say, “We have a special surprise today,” you’ve deflated it. The definition of surprise is that it’s unexpected. Your delivery is just as important as the surprise itself. Act surprised with them. Let the wonder unfold together. You’ll find that planning surprises becomes one of the funnest parts of teaching. (Yes, I know that’s not a real word — but I made it up for kids ministry. Because let’s face it, kids ministry is the funnest ministry of all.)
My Prayer for You:
God of wonder, help us to ignite amazement in the hearts of children. May the surprises we plan point their wonder back to You. Use every unexpected moment to open their hearts wider to Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Moments of wonder today spark a lifetime of faith.
