One of the favorite games for kids at parties, but also a great game for adults with a few small variations. The idea is to pass a package wrapped in several layers with a surprise in the middle. In the variety with music, the package can only be passed when the music is on. When the music stops, a layer can be discarded until the surprise is reached in the last layer. There are many variations of this classic game.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Pass the Parcel with Music # 1
Step 1. Prepare the package
Put a surprise in the center of the package.
- Use a small box if you want an even figure or to make it look bigger than it really is.
- Wrap as many layers as there are players; leave a few more layers in case other unexpected players arrive.
- The package should be large enough for a 5-minute game, so leave extra layers even when there are only a few participants; in this case, the players will have a few more turns.
Step 2. Start the game
Step 3. Sit in a circle
All players should sit comfortably, close enough to each other so that they can pass the pack quickly.
Step 4. Choose someone to control the music
This person will be responsible for turning the music on and off. It should be someone who can keep an eye on the players and stop the music impartially, allowing each player a turn to discard. It's a bit tricky because the music carer should be able to see the players, but at the same time the players shouldn't be able to see his movements as he prepares to turn off the music.
Step 5. Stop the music
Who cares about the music turns it on and off when suddenly.
The player holding the pack discards a layer. If the package is in midair during the exchange, the package goes to the player it would have been passed to
Step 6. Start over after each layer has been discarded
Whoever controls the music turns it back on. This continues until each layer has been discarded.
Step 7. The music continues until the last layer has been discarded
The player who discards the last layer keeps the surprise.
Method 2 of 4: Pass the Parcel with Music # 2
Step 1. Prepare the package
This is the part that differs from method 1. Instead of just placing the surprise in the center of the package, put smaller surprises in each layer of the package as well. This is the best way to prepare the package for children between 3 and 8 years old, in fact every child receives a prize: it does not matter who wins the main prize!
Step 2. Start the game
Step 3. Sit in a circle
All players should sit comfortably, close enough to each other to pass the pack quickly.
Step 4. Choose someone to control the music
This person will be responsible for turning the music on and off. It should be someone who can keep an eye on the players and stop the music impartially, allowing each player a turn to discard. It's a bit tricky because the music carer should be able to see the players, but at the same time the players shouldn't be able to see his movements as he prepares to turn off the music.
Step 5. Stop the music
Who cares about the music turns it on and off suddenly.
The player holding the pack discards a layer. If the package is in midair during the exchange, the package goes to the player it would have been passed to
Step 6. Start over after each layer has been discarded
Whoever controls the music turns it back on. This continues until each layer has been discarded.
Step 7. The music continues until the last layer has been discarded
The player who discards the last layer keeps the surprise.
Method 3 of 4: Pass the Package: Descriptive Version
Step 1. Place a surprise in the center of the package
Only this time you have some extra work to do. Instead of the real surprise, leave a piece of paper that says "For the person who …". It specifies things like: "wears a green colored garment", "has a pink bow", "loves penguins", "got 10 in math this week" etc. The more you know the children, the more specific the slips should be. They will be more general at parties where you don't know children very well.
- Colors, haircuts, types of clothing and shoes are always a good idea.
- Read the "Tips" to learn how to make this version of the game more intriguing for adults.
Step 2. Start the game
This version does not require music. Rather, each player reads the slips and everyone in the group has to guess who the package is for. The person who prepared the package must act as a judge in the event of a disagreement.
Also in this version of the game everyone should sit in a circle; it makes looking at each other significantly easier. If you are an adult, you can sit on chairs or armchairs in a circular fashion around the room
Step 3. Continue reading the descriptions and choosing who will discard until all the layers are discarded
The last to discard is the winner; sometimes it can be a nice thing to make sure that the surprise goes to a particular person, for example the birthday boy, or the birthday girl (in case it was a birthday), or who has never won.
Method 4 of 4: Pass the Parcel - Hot Potato version
Step 1. Put a small shareable surprise in a paper bag
Wrap it up in many layers, writing a silly task for players to do on every layer other than the first, down to the penultimate.
- An example of an activity: Jump on one foot while clapping your hands above your head and chanting the alphabet backwards. This is a good activity for grown-up adults or children; don't make activities too difficult for younger children or they will lose interest.
- Make sure there are at least two layers, and therefore activities, per person.
- Bags of candy, balloons, plastic toys etc are good surprises to share.
Step 2. Sing "Hot Potato"
Pass the pack as fast as you can around the circle, while singing.
Step 3. Do the activity
When the song ends, the player holding the package removes a layer and does the activity written below.
Step 4. Continue to the last layer
The prize should be shared by the last person to discard.
Advice
- For young children (3-10 years old), always try to make sure the music stops at least once for each child, so that each of them plays for a turn. This will ensure fair play in their eyes.
- There is one more variation possible. In addition to the surprise or the description leaflet, a "challenge" can be added to the package. This could be "Go to the person next to you and pull their nose." Or "Move your ears." Or "Stand on one foot for a minute." You got the idea.
- Younger children will soon learn that the longer they hold the package, the more chances there are of being able to unwrap a layer. Avoid this by making it clear early on that this is not allowed (for very young children you will have to keep repeating and repeating …) and encouraging them to pass the package by shouting and cheering. If all fails, simply exclude that child from the game after a turn.
- Wrap the first layer with one type of wrapping paper, and the next with a different type.
- Newspapers are great for wrapping - they are cheap and you can usually find a lot of them abandoned in the house. Brown paper is also good. If you want to be really fussy, use the cheapest wrapping paper you can find, as this will be ripped uncontrollably. Tissue paper is not a good material, as it is too brittle and would tear easily as it is passed by players. Alternatively, save the paper used after Christmas and birthdays to make packages for later holidays.
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For adults: make the surprise in the center desirable and valuable.
- Speed up the music and ask the adults to pass the package faster and faster and without dropping it.
- Use the third method and make the labels revealing, provocative, exciting, etc. - is a great game for office parties or family reunions where everyone is quite familiar with each other's quirks, habits, funny stories and traits. Be careful to write only polite and general things about those people you know for sure don't like to be a source of hilarity. In fact, there's nothing wrong with mixing both jokes and praise on the package; it will make everyone curious about what will come out next round and how he himself will be described.
