Fads have always been a part of childhood. My own childhood went through various crazes that seemed to cycle through the years: yo-yos, elastics, marbles, and skipping ropes.

Children didn’t have the disposable income that many 21st-century kids enjoy today. Skipping ropes could be made from, well, rope. Elastic was borrowed from Mum’s sewing basket and sewn into loops for games of elastics. Marbles were often handed down from fathers and older brothers. Yo-yos were usually bought new, but they weren’t particularly expensive. While these games weren’t allowed in the classroom, they generally weren’t banned from the school grounds either.

Fast forward to my children’s childhood, and Pokémon and Polly Pocket exploded onto the scene. It seems to me the 1990s marked the beginning of licensed toys connected to cartoons, movies, and other merchandise. Then technology arrived, and suddenly it was all about Game Boys and Tamagotchis. I even remember some toys being banned from school because they were causing problems in the playground.

The reason I bring this up is that on Saturday I was introduced to the world of Squishies. And what a weird, spongy world it is! From dumpling Squishies to brains, from blocks of butter to toothpaste tubes, it’s a craze that seems to be consuming children. One child proudly informed us that she owned thirteen Squishies, to which her mother immediately replied, “I’m sick of them!”

I have no idea how long this fad will last, but with Christmas approaching, the shops are undoubtedly making a squillion dollars from them.

So, should Children’s Ministry embrace fads? 

The short answer is: sometimes.

Fads can provide a wonderful point of connection with children. When leaders understand what excites children, they communicate that they care about their world. A simple Squishy object used as an object lesson about God’s love, stress, forgiveness, or resilience can immediately capture a child’s attention because it starts with something familiar.

Using a current fad can also:

• Build rapport with children.
• Help illustrate biblical truths in memorable ways.
• Create excitement and anticipation for programmes and events.
• Demonstrate that the church understands children’s everyday experiences.

However, there are dangers in becoming too dependent on fads.

The biggest challenge is that fads are temporary. What is popular today may be forgotten in six months. If a ministry constantly chases the latest trend, it can become exhausting and expensive for volunteers and leaders. Worse still, children may come to expect entertainment rather than spiritual transformation.

There are also practical concerns. Not every family can afford the latest craze, and bringing popular toys into a ministry setting can sometimes create comparison, distraction, or disputes among children.

Rather than building a ministry around a fad, it is often wiser to use it as a tool. The Gospel remains the focus; the fad simply becomes the doorway into a conversation.

Think of it this way: David used a sling, Jesus talked about fishing nets, seeds, coins, sheep, and vineyards. They all began with something familiar to their audience before pointing to something eternal.

So if Squishies are the craze of the moment, don’t ignore them entirely. Learn about them. Laugh at their weirdness. Use them if they help communicate truth. Just remember that while fads come and go, God’s Word never goes out of fashion.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8