How to Play Pass the Parcel

Last Updated: April 8, 2021 References

A favourite kids' party game that can also be a great game for adults just by making slight variations. The idea is to pass around a parcel wrapped in many layers that has a gift in the middle. In the musical variety, the parcel can only be passed when music is playing. As soon as the music stops, one layer can be unwrapped until the surprise in the last layer is reached. Several variations on this classic game are provided.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Musical pass the parcel #1

1
Prepare your parcel. Place a gift at the center of the parcel.^{[1]
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- Use a small box if you want an even shape or to make it look larger than it is.
- Wrap as many layers as players, with some to spare in case more players turn up.
- The parcel should be large enough for at least a 5 minute game, so add more layers even when you have only a few players; it just means they get more turns.
2
Begin the game.^{[2]
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3
Sit in a circle.^{[3]
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Research source} All the players should be seated comfortably and close enough to the person each side of them that they can pass the parcel quickly.
4
Select the music-keeper.^{[4]
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Research source} This person will be responsible for turning the music on and off. It should be someone who is able to keep an eye on the players and stop the music in a fair way that allows everyone a turn at unwrapping. It is a little tricky because the music-keeper must be able to both see the players but at the same time, players should not be able to see the movements of the music-keeper getting ready to stop the music.
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Stop the music.^{[5]
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Research source} The music-keeper plays the music and stops it when least expected.
- The player holding the parcel unwraps a layer. If the parcel was midway in the air between exchanges, the parcel goes to the player it was being passed to.
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Restart after each layer is unwrapped.^{[6]
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Research source} The music-keeper starts the music again. This continues until all the layers have been removed.
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Continue playing until the last layer is unwrapped.^{[7]
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Research source} The player who unwraps the last layer keeps the item.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Musical pass the parcel # 2

1
Prepare the parcel. This is the part that varies from method one. Instead of placing a gift at the centre of the parcel alone, also place a smaller gift on every layer of the parcel. This is the best way of preparing the parcel for children ages 3 - 8, as then each child receives a prize no matter who wins the prize wrapped in the middle of the parcel.^{[8]
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2
Begin the game.
3
Sit in a circle. All the players should be seated comfortably and close enough to the person each side of them that they can pass the parcel quickly.^{[9]
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4
Select the music-keeper. This person will be responsible for turning the music on and off. It should be someone who is able to keep an eye on the players and stop the music in a fair way that allows everyone a turn at unwrapping. It is a little tricky because the music-keeper must be able to both see the players but at the same time, players should not be able to see the movements of the music-keeper getting ready to stop the music.
5
Stop the music. The music-keeper plays the music and stops it when least expected.
- The player holding the parcel unwraps a layer.^{[10]
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  Research source} If the parcel was midway in the air between exchanges, the parcel goes to the player it was being passed to.
6
Restart after each layer is unwrapped. The music-keeper starts the music again. This continues until all the layers have been removed.
7
Continue playing until the last layer is unwrapped. The player who unwraps the last layer keeps the item.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Descriptive pass the parcel

1
Place a gift at the centre of the parcel. Only this time, you have extra work to do. Instead of a gift on each layer, you leave a label. The label should state "For the person who...". Add reasons such as: "is wearing green", "has a pink ribbon", "likes penguins", "got an A in math this week" etc. The labels should be more descriptive the better you know the children, and less descriptive for parties where you aren't very familiar with the children.
- Colors, hairstyles, types of clothing and shoes are always a safe bet.
- Read "Tips" for how to make this more fun for adults.
2
Begin the game. This version does not require music. Rather, each player reads out the labels and everyone in the group has to guess who the parcel is meant for. The person who made the parcel should act as the umpire if there is any disagreement.
- Everyone should still sit in a circle; it makes seeing each other a lot easier. If it's for adults, everyone can be seated on couches and chairs in a sort-of circular way around the room.
3
Continue reading out descriptions and choosing unwrappers until all the layers have been unwrapped. The last unwrap is the winner; sometimes it can be nice to make sure that this goes to a particular person, such as the birthday girl/boy or the kid who never wins anything.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Hot potato pass the parcel

1
Put a small shareable gift in a paper bag. Wrap many extra layers over it, writing a silly activity for the player to perform on every layer outside the first one, up until the second last.
- An activity example: Jump on one foot while clapping your hands over your head and sing the alphabet backwards. That's a good one for older children and adults; don't make the activities too difficult for young children or they'll lose interest.
- Make enough layers and activities for at least two per person.
- A bag of candies, balloons, plastic toys, etc. makes a good shareable choice.
2
Sing hot potato.^{[11]
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Research source} Pass the parcel around the circle while singing it, passing it as fast as possible.
3
Perform the activity. When the song ends, the player holding the parcel removes a layer and does the activity written underneath.
4
Continue until the last layer. The shared prize should be shared around by the last person to unwrap.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I discourage kids who deliberately keep the parcel to make sure they'll win a prize?

Community Answer

It's pretty simple. Don't turn off the music until they pass the parcel. Don't reward poor sportsmanship!
Question

What is eeny, meany, miney, mo?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

Eeeny, meany, miney, mo is a nonsense rhyme used to make a choice. You say the rhyme and each word represents one of the things you are choosing from. There are more words, and again they vary. You may, for example, have a choice of two candy bars. You'd point at one and start the rhyme pointing between the two: "Eeeny, meany, miney, mo, catch a monkey by his toe, if he squeals let him go, eeeny, meany, miney, mo." Which ever you are pointing at when say the last word "mo" is your choice.
Question

Who invented the matchstick?

Community Answer

The first successful friction match was invented in 1826 by English chemist John Walker, a chemist and druggist from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

Warnings

Don't use anything fragile as gifts - this parcel will get tossed about a lot.

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Helpful 18 Not Helpful 2
Don't tape the layers together. The layers should be independent.

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