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Original poster

Pass The Parcel - Lucky's Dad Rules or Not?

39 replies

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 27/11/2022 08:50

Daughters party is coming up and she wants pass the parcel. Husband and I are discussing which method to use. Do we use the old style (Lucky's Dad's rules (Bluey Ref) of one really good prize) or do we do a prize in every layer with a slightly better prize at the end?

We both kind of want Lucky's Dad's rules as we grew up with that, but also don't want a bunch of upset kids as they haven't got a prize.

OP posts:
Flev · 27/11/2022 08:54

I'd do a token something inside each layer (sticker, sweet etc) so they all get something but you don't end up spending loads.

fancyacuppatea · 27/11/2022 08:55

wrapped sweet in each layer at most. minimal cost = happy child full of sugar Grin

PuttingDownRoots · 27/11/2022 08:57

Under 5, we used to do each child got a sweet from the bowl until everyone had one, then did the final prize. Also had two parcels if more than 10 kids.

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ShirleyPhallus · 27/11/2022 08:59

God you cannot just get them to unwrap a layer each with nothing inside it. What a sad party game. Just put a sweet or a sticker inside each layer

FelizNavicrab · 27/11/2022 09:00

Every layer.

Lividity · 27/11/2022 09:02

I’m all for Lucky’s Dad’s rules and bringing back the 80s

Disclaimer, my kid is only two so it might have to be something we work on…

Original poster
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 27/11/2022 09:02

ShirleyPhallus · 27/11/2022 08:59

God you cannot just get them to unwrap a layer each with nothing inside it. What a sad party game. Just put a sweet or a sticker inside each layer

This was what it was when we were growing up and when my eldest was younger. I don't know when it changed but now it seems a prize every layer is the done thing. I find it odd lol.

OP posts:
Octoberfishing · 27/11/2022 09:04

For 7+ we do a forfeit in each layer (eg hop around the room, do an impression of your teacher). It's optional of course but if they do it, they get a sweet!

Beees · 27/11/2022 09:05

Lucky dad's rules is how I play it with my EYFS kids at the Christmas party. Contrary to belief they don't get upset at not getting a sweet or prize when they unwrap a layer.

Although it's also worth noting that quite a lot of them don't actually know how to play pass the parcel at all.

dubyalass · 27/11/2022 09:06

I'm ancient and when we played it as kids there was usually a sweet in each layer. Bit miserable otherwise.

BloodAndFire · 27/11/2022 09:07

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 27/11/2022 09:02

This was what it was when we were growing up and when my eldest was younger. I don't know when it changed but now it seems a prize every layer is the done thing. I find it odd lol.

Show quote history

I was born in 1979 and there was always an opal fruit or something in each layer.

Allsnotwell · 27/11/2022 09:09

It doesn’t have to be a prize it can be a forfeit - do a dance sing a song count backwards - there’s lists of ideas if you look

XanaduKira · 27/11/2022 09:11

I always put a packet of haribo (the 10p packets) in each layer and then a box of maltesers as the main prize. That way everyone gets something, winner is happy and it doesn't cost a fortune.

For me it's seeing the smiles on their faces rather than disappointment each time.

Poppitt58 · 27/11/2022 09:13

I’m an 80s kid. My mum put a chewit and a joke in every layer. It’s not new.

SkylightSkylight · 27/11/2022 09:15

I grew up in the 70's and there wasn't anything in the layers, just the final one!

Thats what we've always done. Kids need to be allowed to learn to cope with life! Not shielded from any slight disappointment. It's not about one sweet or sticker per layer, it's about delayed gratification, learning to deal with small disappointments, anticipation & so much more.

Throwaway1066 · 27/11/2022 09:24

One year my nan did a pass the parcel and in some layers there were sweets and in others there was a little bit of paper saying “loser”

She was deadly serious but the laughs it gave us all were priceless (it was a multigenerational game from 3yr olds to 60yr olds). It was hard to explain to the preschoolers though 😂

Original poster
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 27/11/2022 09:27

SkylightSkylight · 27/11/2022 09:15

I grew up in the 70's and there wasn't anything in the layers, just the final one!

Thats what we've always done. Kids need to be allowed to learn to cope with life! Not shielded from any slight disappointment. It's not about one sweet or sticker per layer, it's about delayed gratification, learning to deal with small disappointments, anticipation & so much more.

This is the exact conversation we had last night about this! Bless Lucky's Dad for bringing it up again for a new generation 🤣

Maybe we do it old school but warn them before hand that it is old rules.

OP posts:
queenofthewild · 27/11/2022 09:29

Small chocolate thing in every layer.

Child will eat chocolate. Chocolate will be smeared on face. It makes it so much easier to see who has had a turn at opening.

herbygarden · 27/11/2022 09:31

I have two kids age 7 and 5 and I have been to many many parties with pass the parcel and without exception every single one has had a sweet in every layer. Usually a bag of haribo! I think if you do differently kids will be disappointed as that's their expectation now, sorry!

hopeishere · 27/11/2022 09:33

I'm on my 50s and we did nothing in the layers. For my son I did haribo in the layers.

More controversial is the birthday kid winning the prize!!! A no-no in my book...

Soubriquet · 27/11/2022 09:34

We would do it so each child got to unwrap a layer each. A sweet would be inside the layer.

Last one, I would turn my back and close my eyes and then press stop. It would be totally random and allows each child to get something at the same time

OodieBoogie · 27/11/2022 09:35

We went to a Lucky's dad rules birthday party a while ago and I was amazed at how many of the kids completely abandoned the game once they realised there wasn't a sweet between every layer.

RightBackAtYa · 27/11/2022 09:36

Or you could just mess with their head and do every other layer or just randomly

Beees · 27/11/2022 09:37

herbygarden · 27/11/2022 09:31

I have two kids age 7 and 5 and I have been to many many parties with pass the parcel and without exception every single one has had a sweet in every layer. Usually a bag of haribo! I think if you do differently kids will be disappointed as that's their expectation now, sorry!

They won't all be disappointed though and they certainly haven't been in my experience. Kids actually don't really care that much and let's face it they all know they will be getting a party bag with sweets and cake in it anyway so it's not like they are being deprived of sweets.

I think quite a few of them would actually like the novelty of playing by lucky dad's rules as they will have seen the show and make the link.

Testina · 27/11/2022 09:38

70s child and everyone had pass the parcel, and everyone did it with a sweet in each layer!
Otherwise where’s the fun in unwrapping? The early layers have none of the fun of “this might be it!” so it’s quite dull without the sweet.

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