How to Play the Pass the Parcel Game: Simple Instructions

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.

Playing Pass the Parcel

Place a gift in a box and wrap it in as many layers of paper as there are players.
Sit in a circle and choose someone to control the music.
Turn the music on and pass the parcel around the circle.
When the music stops, the person holding the parcel unwraps a layer of paper.
Keep playing until the last layer is unwrapped. The person holding the box keeps the prize.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Musical pass the parcel #1

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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.
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^{[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]
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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.
^{[6]
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Research source} The music-keeper starts the music again. This continues until all the layers have been removed.
^{[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

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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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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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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. 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.
The music-keeper starts the music again. This continues until all the layers have been removed.
The player who unwraps the last layer keeps the item.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Descriptive pass the parcel

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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.
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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.
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

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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.
^{[11]
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Research source} Pass the parcel around the circle while singing it, passing it as fast as possible.
When the song ends, the player holding the parcel removes a layer and does the activity written underneath.
The shared prize should be shared around by the last person to unwrap.

Community Q&A

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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!

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What is eeny, meany, miney, mo?

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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.

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Who invented the matchstick?

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

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Tips

There is one further variation possible. Instead of a gift or a descriptive label, there could be a forfeit (a task of daring) added to the parcel. This would have such things as "Go to the person next to you and pull their nose." Or "Wiggle your ears." Or "Stand on one leg for a minute." You get the idea.^{[12]
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For young children (ages 3 - 10), always try to ensure that the music stops at least once for each child so that they each have a turn. This will ensure that they feel the game has been fair.

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Younger children will soon catch on to the fact that hanging onto the parcel might increase their chances of getting to unwrap a layer. Avoid this by explaining at the beginning that that is not allowed (and for very young children, you will need to keep explaining) and by encouraging them to move the parcel along with cries and cheers. If all else fails, simply refuse to allow that child to have more than one turn.

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Warnings

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

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Don't tape the layers together. The layers should be independent.

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