A Parent’s Guide to Setting Up Surprise Button for Your Family
Welcome to Surprise Button! This guide walks you through setting up the app for your family—it takes just a few minutes to get your children exploring age-appropriate educational content.
Getting Started: Three Simple Steps
The entire setup process is designed to be quick, secure, and COPPA-compliant. Here’s what to expect:
Step 1: Sign In with Apple
- Download Surprise Button from the App Store on your iPad
- Launch the app and you’ll see the Welcome screen
- Tap “Sign in with Apple” to authenticate securely
- Apple handles all authentication—no passwords to create or remember
Why Sign in with Apple? It’s the most secure option for families. Your Apple ID is protected by Apple’s security infrastructure, including two-factor authentication if you have it enabled on your Apple account.
Step 2: Start Your Free Trial
After signing in, you’ll see the subscription screen. Surprise Button offers:
- 7-day free trial to explore everything
- $99.99/year if you choose to continue after the trial
- Cancel anytime directly through your Apple ID settings
Before subscribing, you’ll acknowledge a simple consent statement about the activity tracking we use to send you daily reports. We’re upfront about what we collect: your child’s age band, name (if provided), and which content they explore.
What you get:
- Daily curiosity reports sent to your email
- Unlimited access to age-appropriate educational content
- Support for multiple children on one subscription
Step 3: Set Up Your Family
Once subscribed, you’ll tell us about your family:
Child’s Name (optional)
- We use this to personalize daily reports
- If you prefer, leave it blank and we’ll use “Your child”
Age Range
- Choose from: 3-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, or 14-16
- This determines which content appears for your child
- You can change this anytime if you want different content
Your Email
- Where we send daily activity summaries
- We’ll share what your child discovered each day
Daily Report Time
- Choose when to receive the summary email
- Pick a time that works for your schedule—maybe during their bedtime routine or your morning coffee
That’s it! Tap Continue, and your child is ready to start exploring.
Adding More Children
Surprise Button supports multiple children on a single family subscription:
- Tap the profile area in the app
- Add a new child profile
- Enter their name and age range
- Switch between children easily when handing over the iPad
Each child gets their own age-appropriate content based on their profile, and you’ll see activity for all children in your daily reports.
What Happens When Your Child Uses the App
Surprise Button is intentionally simple. Here’s the experience:
- Your child taps the big button on the main screen
- A surprise appears! Educational content matched to their age
- They explore, learn, and tap again whenever they’re ready for something new
Content includes topics like animals, science, art, space, history, and more—all curated for kids and presented without ads, external links, or social features.
Understanding the Daily Reports
Each day (at your chosen time), you’ll receive an email summarizing what your child discovered:
- Topics they explored
- Time spent with each surprise
- Conversation starters to extend learning
These reports help you connect with your child about what they learned and can spark real-world activities together.
Safety Features Built In
Surprise Button is designed with child safety as the foundation:
- No external links - Children stay within safe content
- No advertisements - Ever
- No social features - No messaging, sharing, or user-generated content
- COPPA compliant - We meet all U.S. child privacy requirements
- Parental gate - A simple math problem prevents accidental changes
- Age-verified content - Everything is reviewed for appropriateness
Tips for Making It Part of Your Routine
Morning Discovery
Start the day with a surprise or two—a calm, educational way to ease into the morning. Many families use it during breakfast or while getting ready.
Waiting Room Entertainment
Keep the iPad ready for doctor’s offices, restaurants, or car rides. Educational content beats mindless scrolling.
Wind-Down Time
Before bed, let your child discover something new, then talk about it together. It’s screen time you can feel good about.
Weekend Exploration
Give your child more time on weekends to follow their curiosity deeper. See what topics they gravitate toward.
Talking to Your Kids About What They Learn
The best part of Surprise Button isn’t the app itself—it’s the conversations it starts. Try asking:
- “What was the most interesting thing you discovered today?”
- “Did anything surprise you?”
- “What do you want to learn more about?”
- “Should we try something related to that this weekend?”
Managing Your Subscription
Your subscription is managed through Apple:
- Open Settings on your iPad or iPhone
- Tap your name at the top
- Tap Subscriptions
- Find Surprise Button to view or cancel
You can cancel anytime, and you’ll retain access until the end of your current billing period.
If You Need Help
App Won’t Load Content
- Check your internet connection
- Close and reopen the app
- Check for app updates in the App Store
Not Receiving Daily Emails
- Check your spam/junk folder
- Verify your email address in the app settings
- Make sure daily reports are enabled
Questions About Your Subscription
- Visit your Apple ID subscription settings
- Contact Apple Support for billing questions
For other questions, reach out to us at hi@surprisebutton.com.
Your Family’s Learning Journey Starts Here
Setting up Surprise Button takes just a few minutes, but the benefits last much longer. You’re giving your child a way to explore their natural curiosity in a safe, ad-free environment—and you’ll stay connected to their discoveries through daily reports.
Ready to begin? Download Surprise Button from the App Store and start your 7-day free trial today.
Have questions about setting up Surprise Button? Contact us at hi@surprisebutton.com.