Pass the parcel….

[Itsallaboutme2021]

I’m sorry but what the heck has happened to pass the parcel?
Every child wins a present!!!!
Can’t have anyone disappointed!!!!!

All I’m saying is bring back Luckys dad way-( episode of Bluey) !!!!!!

Honestly I can’t handle this modern day parenting…. And I am one to a 4yr old!

Are you talking about a sweet or a sticker in each layer? Or something more substantial?

are you resenting for kids to get a small bag of sweets or something? Unclench, honestly.

I used to put little sweets in each layer. Small ones like ones from a box of celebrations or something so it's not exactly a major "prize".

Tbf it's a funking boring game without a few sweets in the layers to break it up.

I’ve been to two parties now and every layer has a small gift in it, I did it recently with a sweet in each layer and then the main big present as the big one.

but even with mine I had kids crying and saying to me ‘ I haven’t got anything yet’ I’m like…. Calm down child. lol

When I did it, about 10 years ago now, I had a tiny pack of sweets between each layer and made sure everyone got some, then didn't watch at all for the last layer with the actual prize because I didn't want to know who was going to win as that's basically choosing someone.

This was happening as far back as 1982. I remember clearly getting a little hedgehog badge/pin between layers in pass the parcel. It was newspaper wrapping in those days though!

I have absolutely no issues whatsoever with the pack of sweets in every layer, I think that happened even when I was little.

We were at a 3rd birthday party a few months ago though where I was absolutely baffled to see the parents had- not joking- the same amount of presents to pass round as there were children and they were literally sat timing the breaks in the music to ensure every child got a big present in the end. Can sort of see that it makes it “fair” but god it was hard work even to watch because once a child has won their prize they didn’t have much interest in continuing to play, and because the final pauses were orchestrated to select players there was quite a few “oo no pass that back I’m sure that stopped on xx”

I've only done it a couple of times but it was Lucky's dad's rules all the way. No extra prizes till the main one and genuinely random music stopping without looking. None of this making sure every one gets a turn.

I changed my opinion of a friend, when I did the music and she said make sure her DD (bday girl) won the big prize 😮

Agree to your post too, a sweet in each layer is fine, but not a covetable prize

What are we classing as a present in the outer layers? In the 90s my mum would put some small fun size chocolate or mini haribo in - does that count?

I’m not sure what Lucky’s dad’s rules are but I wouldn’t do pass the parcel totally randomly. Everyone gets a layer, and then anyone (except birthday child) can win the main present. Obviously that involves watching and stopping the music when the birthday child isn’t holding it. My mum used to make sure it didn’t go to any child who’d been rude.

I feel diddled! Throughout my childhood in the 80s it was more brutal there was only one gift right at the bottom! 😅

Lucky’s dad’s rules all the way!!

Traditional party games like that only work for a very narrow age range I think.

At about 4 they start to understand about taking part (and learn about fairness and winning and losing graciously - and that is something that they actually need to learn) then ages 5-7 are peak class party times where you can do musical statues etc. Much older than that and pass the parcel is boring, musical statues is too difficult to judge fairly and musical chairs is a scrum.

I did the small sweets between wrappers (and alternate colours) where you pass it on if you've already had one and then one prize at the end which was properly random. Ideally having 2 parcels if it's a big group so that it doesn't take forever. I did warn mine not to expect to win anything at their own birthday parties - after all they were going home with presents from their guests and it was only fair that the guests could enjoy it too.

Thing is, nobody gets "how to run small children's parties" lessons so it's never going to be perfect and people have different budgets. We're all just muddling through and learning what works as we go along. As long as the kids are having a good time I'd consider it a win.

I’ve had to check ‘Lucky’s dad’s rules’ but if Uncle Google has got it right, there’s only one prize.

There are things in my childhood which have affected me to this day but not having a minor prize in each layer of Pass the Parcel is not one of them. Things were simpler in the 1950 – 1960s.

How do you youngsters deal with Hunt the Thimble or Grandma’s Footsteps ?

Very common growing up to have a little sweetie or small token gift in each layer then a main prize

There was always prizes in every layer of pass the parcel when I was a kid (I grew up in the 80s) that said I never much liked the game and found it super stressful, as a kid playing and an adult organising.
But then I never really liked any kids party games, even as an actual kid

Yeah I’ve done sweets in the layers. I’m talking about a gift /toy in each layer.

☝️This is the only way PTP should be allowed to be played.

I went to a party where the mum had a list of the children and which layer was there gift so had to stop it on them…. I was like what the hell is going on.

I absolutely love this reply!!!! Thank you.

I was a child in the 80s and the rules were there had to be one of those disgusting sherbert flying saucer sweets in between each layer, or, if you were really lucky, a candy necklace.

I've never known anyone do that.
Although I have had to explain pass the parcel to several non-british folks from countries where thet don't have the game. Maybe "the rules" have been misunderstood sometimes.

Creates more anticipation if there is only 1 prize. Old way is definitely the best.

I had been to parties where pass the parcel - there were 2 parcels, as about 40 odd there. The prizes in the layers were those small boxes of Smarties, a Double Lolly or those jelly spiders/creepy crawlies sweets.

One party I went to, the size of the PTP was the size of a pillow and the prize was a £5 gift voucher for Toys R Us (I think). Dread to think how many layers.