Pass the Parcel question - dh thinks I was mean

[saadia]

When I was little and went to parties there was only ever one prize in Pass the Parcel, but lately I've noticed people have been putting things in with every layer so that every child gets something. Well, at ds' party on Sat, I only put in one prize and dh was stunned, he thought it was unbelievably mean. I on the other had thinks kids get far too much (he also thought the party bags were stingy) so I wondered how everyone else arranged their Pass the Parcel.

I have to be honest, i completely agree with YOU!! When i was small, you didn't get something in every layer. The point was to enjoy the game, not to play knowing you were going to get something anyway. At a party last yr, the children who had unwrapped a layer, were removed from the circle and became the helpers. I think it's important for children to learn, at any age, that life isn't full of GET, GET, GET!

Don't feel bad x

sweetie in each layer does help to maintain their interest too

I think its completely up to you what you decide to do with pass the parcel and the party bags if you're doing the work.

Only stale bread and water with no party games would be mean.

Was your dh worried enough about the pass the parcel and party bags to take over the organising/buying/preparing himself?

TheArmadillo if it was left up to dh he would have gone totally overboard (has done so in the past) which is why I was trying to keep to a budget this year as I think things have just gone too far. TBH I think the kids were a bit disappointed but I find it disturbing when kids (my own included) arrive at parties expecting party bags etc and loads of stuff.

you're dead right saadia. a pressie in each layer is madness!

we always put a forfiet or a sweetie in each layer until the big middle pressie then you can afford to do a couple

Fpr very young children (2-3)I would put something in each layer, but nothing for older children. Opening a parcel takes quite a long time for a 2-3 year old and it helps maintain their interest. It would be something very small, though, a single sweet perhaps. But for older children I wouldn't do this, I don't think it is necessary and just slows the game down.