I thought my son had lost his mind when I stumbled upon a video of an adult woman, her freshly polished nails on display, gleefully opening surprise eggs and describing their contents in detail. We watched it once, and I chuckled at the absurdity of it all.
Fast forward a few months, and my amusement has turned into exasperation. No sooner do I think I’ve seen every variation than another video emerges featuring a new character or twist. Want to see someone “catch” eggs in a pool and reveal their treasures? Sure! How about Play-Doh-covered Easter eggs themed after the emotions from Inside Out? Coming right up. Whatever your child is currently into, there’s a surprise egg video to match, which means these pesky eggs are here to stay. Fantastic.
These videos are driving me up the wall. I can’t stand them, nor can I fathom the adults who create them. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Honestly, what kind of adult spends their time buying tiny toys, packing them into eggs, and filming themselves feigning excitement over what’s inside? People with way too much free time, that’s who! If I had an hour to spare, I’d find countless better ways to use it. And while I wish I could say “to each their own,” I can’t justify this behavior.
To make matters worse, YouTube now seems to think I want to watch even more ridiculous content, like a grown adult pretending to be a dentist for Peppa Pig and extracting Shrek’s teeth. Or, how about a skit of Peppa going to the hospital for surgery with figurines? Yes, these are now automatic recommendations that pop up if I’m not quick to navigate away from the egg videos. Seriously, what’s with the bizarre medical themes?
Now, we find ourselves watching surprise egg videos almost daily. They’ve become the go-to screen time activity and a surefire way to diffuse a toddler tantrum. My son, of course, has very specific requests: “I want to see the Paw Patrol eggs!” or “Can we watch the Peppa Pig ones?” I’m actually using these silly videos to lure him home from the playground or to encourage him to tidy up his toys. And I can’t be the only one; these videos boast millions of views. All my parent friends with toddlers know exactly what I’m talking about—we share a collective eye roll when the topic comes up. Those without kids think I’m completely out of my mind when I mention the “surprise egg phenomenon.” Lucky them!
Seriously, who came up with this concept? What could possibly motivate an adult to think producing this kind of content is a good idea? And as parents, why did we let this trend infiltrate our homes? If I could, I’d take it all back. They’re worse than Teletubbies or Barney. If I didn’t fear being subjected to both, I’d probably suggest watching them instead.
There are countless things I’d rather do with my time—like doing dishes, laundry, cleaning the bathroom, or even poking my eyeballs with a fork. Yet, after hearing my son ask so sweetly for “Mummy, can we watch the Mickey eggs?” I often give in, and it’s back to the same old routine. Eggs on the TV, eggs on the tablet—he doesn’t care as long as they’re eggs.
The worst moments are when we’re out and a meltdown looms because he can’t access his beloved egg videos. Maybe my phone’s dead, we’re out of WiFi range, or YouTube is loading at a snail’s pace. It’s a disaster. Recently, he found a plastic Easter egg lying around, and he plays with it more than some of the toys I invested in. “Mummy, can you open it and see what’s inside?” he eagerly asks. He opens it and feigns shock at discovering whatever he just placed inside. This is adorable and acceptable for a toddler, but it’s not behavior that should be emulated by adults.
The surprise egg trend seems to be growing without any signs of slowing down, and it’s as frustrating a trend as men in purple skinny jeans. I’m ready to rally fellow parents against this egg invasion. Yes, I know how silly that sounds, but I feel out of options and my patience is wearing thin. Toddler trends come and go, but I pray for a swift end to this one. Anything but this—though I’ve learned to be careful what I wish for.
For more on parenting and fertility topics, check out our blog on home insemination kit. You can also explore boosting fertility with supplements at Make a Mom, a trusted resource for aspiring parents. And if you’re interested in understanding the science behind IVF, the Genetics and IVF Institute is an excellent reference.
Summary:
Surprise egg videos have taken over the lives of many parents, providing both entertainment and a tool to manage toddler meltdowns. While initially humorous, the trend has become overwhelming and frustrating. Parents everywhere share in the plight of navigating this peculiar phenomenon, longing for a return to simpler, less egg-centric forms of entertainment.