Page 4 | To think if you let your child win pass the parcel at their own birthday party it tells me everything I need to know about you.

Celebelly · 20/10/2019 20:36

Also my mum always did is so there were little presents, maybe a pack of sweets, in each layer and then bigger present at the end. So all the kids would get to open a layer and get something and then a random child (never me of course as that would be heinous) would get the 'big' present at the end. It's a valuable lesson that even if it's your birthday, you don't get everything your way!

Babynamechangerr · 20/10/2019 20:37

Well I hope this doesn't reflect badly on me but I hired an entertainer for my kid's party last year and the entertainer did pass the parcel my my dc won. I was a bit embarrassed but I didn't realise that they were going to do that game or that they'd pick the birthday child to win. I guess they think they need to as you're the one paying them?

Was the first birthday I've organised though so next year I'll brief an entertainer not to do this and my dc that they won't win so I don't get a tantrum.

rubyroot · 20/10/2019 20:40

Pass the parcel is shit. Shouldn't play it at all. Its always fixed in some way

BikeRunSki · 20/10/2019 20:41

The birthday child never wins PTP!

TellMeWhoTheVilliansAre · 20/10/2019 20:43

My friend is so amazing she rigs EVERY round! She knows what each child likes and she puts that little thing in each layer. She then has a list of who should win in what order and every child is delighted to win something specific that they actually like. The last one then is for the birthday child and it's usually a tiny cheap pressie too, but something personal that they actually like.

Presents are never extravagent. Think along the lines of a specific pencil, or eraser, or a whistle for the child who wants to be a policeman etc.

I think she's mad. But brilliant. I couldn't be arsed even organising pass the parcel with one winner!

UnderTheSleepingBaby · 20/10/2019 20:45

@DappledThings please don't do that! I know it seems trivial as adults (I just don't do a PtP for this reason) but to little children it is devastating not to get a turn opening the parcel. I have never seen one run as you describe but have been to a party where there weren't enough layers and the sad little faces of the children left out was awful.

I'm sure someone will say "they have to learn that life isn't always fair" but I would argue that a 2hr party, which is supposed to be a celebration doesn't need to be the venue for this lesson. Life can be pretty cruel to a lot of kids, let's give them this harmless joy!

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 20/10/2019 20:46

It might be a rookie error. A mate was fuming with her H for doing this - the poor man had been stopping the music entirely at random while cutting with relatives and inadvertently gave the birthday boy the middle prize.

ArchMemory · 20/10/2019 20:46

I’ve responded to an almost identical thread previously to share my understanding of ‘the rules’ - sweetie between each layer and every child unwraps a layer, birthday child does NOT win main prize (their party so they have plenty), choose a winner who would benefit from a little boost.

This resulted in some disapproving comments (especially from parents whose child had won recently and were now worried about other parents thinking their child needed said boost) but that’s what I do.

Clearly there are many doing exactly the opposite (birthday child wins ALL) so don’t worry too much.

SittingAround1 · 20/10/2019 20:46

Yep birthday child should never win the main prize.
I did layers for everyone including the birthday child before the main prize - had a checklist and everything.

Pin the tail on the donkey was free for anyone to win including birthday child.

Mummyoflittledragon · 20/10/2019 20:46

One layer per child with sweets in wrapping. Birthday child deffo doesn’t get the prize. Sooo glad dd is older now...

Stiltons · 20/10/2019 20:47

I couldn't get too worked up about it. I always make sure dd knows she definitely won't win any of the main prizes on games like pass the parcel as she has lots of presents to unwrap so it is nice to let some of her friends have a turn.

DappledThings · 20/10/2019 20:47

please don't do that! I know it seems trivial as adults (I just don't do a PtP for this reason) but to little children it is devastating not to get a turn opening the parcel

Fair enough. I probably won't, I just remember being so confused when my aunt told me as it hadn't occurred to me to rig it at all. I must check with my parents, they probably were always rigging it too and I don't remember.

BuzzingtheBee · 20/10/2019 20:47

Agree

sweeneytoddsrazor · 20/10/2019 20:50

What on earth is wrong with you all. Every child should win a sweet/lolly or small thing from the layers then the main prize should be completely random with the person controlling the music looking away.

Goatinthegarden · 20/10/2019 20:50

I’ve always done it that I do the same number of layers as there are children, a small prize between each layer, and a slightly better prize at the end. In my (obviously lazy) version, you’re out once you’ve opened a layer....much easier to keep track.

Birthday child shouldn’t win!

OooErMissus · 20/10/2019 20:52

Apologies to anyone with full joyful busy fulfilling wonderful lives who is being forced to read it and type replies.

😂😂

Awesome!!

SoftBlocks · 20/10/2019 20:53

YANBU

ScribblyGum · 20/10/2019 20:57

Excellent thread title OP.

Pass the parcel is such a croc of old shite game anyway. Bunch of kids either mildly anxious (not won crappy prize yet) or bored (have won crappy prize). Bollocks to pass the parcel and anyone winning it. Burn the fucker in a metal bucket in the middle of your lounge, much more exciting. I bet those mini packets of haribo go up a treat. Birthday kid gets to throw in the match.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 20/10/2019 20:59

I have found my people! DH and I have disagreed about this for three years.

I took dd when she was 4 to a birthday party where the entertainers made it random and someone else won the prize. Cue birthday girl welling up and her dad charging over to the entertainer to have a go at them for spoiling his perfect princess’s day. I think my mouth was hanging down to the floor watching his behaviour.

Also, I’m sure you all realise but I just have to say - she a had a massive pile of presents already from the guests. I mean it’s just ridiculous that her father could behave in such a bullish way.

Original poster

FastAway · 20/10/2019 21:04

I’m glad there are so many of us. I know exactly who from this thread would be my mate at the school gate. We should go for drinks. I’m completely free as my life is totally empty.

OP posts:

letsgomaths · 20/10/2019 21:05

I've heard of doing pass the parcel as one of the later games: easier to use it to give a prize to a child who hasn't had one yet.

Also, with pin the tail: I saw a parent who was making a big deal of "no cheating allowed in this game. I'm going to be covering your naughty eyes to make absolutely sure you can't see anything." The second child confidently strode up and got it in exactly the right place, she made him do it again.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 20/10/2019 21:06

My DD won at a birthday party recently, she’s only 2 so didn’t understand not to keep passing it when the music stopped, so it got passed to the next kid who was 5, even though the music had very clearly stopped on her and she was the only one not to have removed a layer, and his parents didn’t make him pass it back, my face was

Haha I love these sorts of posts now mine are teens. You're annoyed, your 2 year old won't care or remember, the 5 year old will be happy for days

I always warned mine they wouldn't win the end prize. I always turned my back once I'd made sure everyone had had a go at opening and won a sweet. The one year it accidentally landed on my daughter she freaked out and threw it across the circle to another child. I can guarantee the children don't remember that

Wearywithteens · 20/10/2019 21:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

chesterdraws1 · 20/10/2019 21:09

Surely everyone knows it's a law of kids' parties that it's never the birthday child that wins pass the parcel. It's the kid that you, personally, like the best

Gillian1980 · 20/10/2019 21:10

We have friends who rig EVERY game, every year so their dc wins. He has the most insane meltdowns if it doesn’t happen.

He also has to be allowed to have a go at blowing candles out at everyone else’s parties as well as his own.

Growing up each kid got a layer with sweets or something small in, then a random kid (not the birthday child!) got the middle.