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.

[FastAway]

Well, am I?

I mean, come on.

You're welcome. I'm off to unwrap a biscuit like the big prize it is.

I’m so confused. I thought candy was wrapped into each layer for the guests and then the birthday kid gets the main prize?? Everyone wins on their birthday so it’s evened out through the year? Is that wrong? Has my whole life been a lie??

AND INSPIRED @Euromillsplz. Don’t forget inspired. Perhaps even tearful. With gratitude.

A friend did pass the parcel last year and brightly dropped into the game introduction that she couldn't be bothered to count the layers and besides, they were all old enough to understand that not everyone could be a winner, weren't they. Well that was a lead balloon!

@Junkmail hmmmm you sound American. Things might be different there as obviously there is a culture of it being OK to actually like yourself which is seen as an unbearable sense of entitlement and bragging and bringing up a bratty devil here in the UK. So basically if you’re American it MIGHT be OK and actually what you’re saying does make sense but no, here in the UK you may see it, but it will definitely be.... that parent doing it.

Tearful but that might just be a Sunday night thing..

@Junkmail cha I know right??!! We must be subjects of a social experiment or something

I won PTP at DS's birthday party.🎁 The children were outraged.😂

I wouldn't be bothered by this. Not enough to start a thread about. Get a hobby

My lovely friends dh did this once he means well but can be abit clueless she was subtlety trying to stop him doing it but was too late

Doesn't bother me in all honesty.
All the parties I have been at the birthday boy/girl gets the final present but everyone gets a little something. Never thought much about it as it's just a game 😂

When I was younger the prize always went to the birthday child! (But then other kids got a sweet when they opened the other layers). Surely if it’s your birthday you want to win!?

Oh my God! I hate Kiddies parties! Thank God I'm nearly through it, just a couple more years left! The politics of it all! I've taught my children some you win, some you lose! It doesn't bother me in pass the parcel who gets the final prize, it's just a game!

As an 80s child I remember there was no rhyme or reason to it, the stops were completely random (cassette player in use). It was good form if you'd already opened to pass onto the next person. If you got nothing you didn't think anything of it. Other faves such as musical chairs, musical statues, sleeping lions & of course the Hokey Cokey. God I miss being young!

I didn't win pass the parcel at my 6th Birthday party (it was in the 60s, so only one prize in the last layer). I had a huge strop and spent the rest of my party sulking under the table
I seem to remember everyone including my parents ignoring me and the party carrying on regardless!

@Wearywithteens

In the nicest possible way...GET. A. GRIP LOVE. (Or a hobby, as someone else helpfully suggested).

Selfish and grabby? Is this all you have to worry about?!?!

...'that the birthday child, who is already getting all the attention and presents..'

Yup, it does come but once a year!
To be fair I think it's your attitude that's coming off a bit princessy 👸

I THINK we all know exactly who won PTP @Euromillsplz kids’ last party.....

Hmm lots of kids turn up with no present for the birthday child. I make all the layers fairly even and fix it so everyone gets a layer.

Pass the parcel is a great game to rig in favour of small children who miss out on winning in the more robust games like musical chairs. I would never rig it in favour of my child though. I always tell my children that they will get enough gifts forms guests and if they win a party game, they are to pass on the prize to second place.

So if the birthday has to win PTP, I assume this extends to all the party games - musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, etc, etc...??

Is the birthday child expected to win every last one?

Because if so, that is so tedious for all the little guests.

I remember there only being one prize, in the centre, and it was random who won it. And who got to unwrap the layers. I remember getting more upset about musical statues at a party, because I moved and was out

I’ve been to a couple of parties where the birthday boy or girl won the final PTP prize. A normal reaction is to be happy for them, most children and definitely all the adults always are. Especially since everyone else tends to get something in a well planned version of the game too. I’m glad I don’t know anyone like you OP who would sulk over their child not winning the last “prize”

It’s funny that the OP thinks anyone who disagrees with her would make their kids win. Er, no FastAway... we’re just not that precious about who wins! It’s a game FFS. FWIW we didn’t play it at my DS’s big party last year but I really did not think anything of the parents or entertainers who arranged for the birthday boy or girl to win at the other parties.

You sound bloody hard work OP. Please find a hobby.

You seem to have missed the point of the thread, ParkLife.

The OP isn't talking about people who inadvertently let their kid win. She's specially talking about people who deliberately ensure their precious little darling wins the prize.

YANBU I was shocked the first time I saw this as I always thought it was rigged against the birthday kid.