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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

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Original poster

Is pass the parcel actually fun? Or is it just a crap game that we all do, because at birthday parties you have pass the parcel?

25 replies

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 21:44

I'm not a seasoned birthday party veteran yet, but I've hosted and taken the DC to a fair few now, and I'm wondering: Do children actually like playing pass the parcel?

Did I enjoy playing it as a child? I can't remember.

I feel it's taken on a sort of 'Queens Speech on Christmas day' default position at parties ie it's shite but we do it because, well, it's what we do isn't it?

Was at a party yesterday (no offence wilukie if you're lurking, it was a top party), but looking at the kids faces as the parcel goes round, well it's a combination of anxiety ('will I ever get it'?), boredom (I got it and have my sticker...will I win the innards?.....unlikely and tbh I'd rather be jumping up and down with those balloons over there') and rage ('GIVE ME THE PARCEL GIVE GIVE GIVE IT TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE AAAAARGH').

If I invite grown ups to my house for a party, then anxiety, boredom and rage are three emotions I'm really not going to be encouraging.

So why do we play it with our children?

OP posts:

spicemonster · 09/01/2008 21:47

I think it's great if a) there's some little teeny present inside each layer b) there are the same number of layers (ish) as there are children so that everyone gets a go.

Otherwise yeah it's dull and anxious.

I like pass the parcel but then I'm a sick puppy.

emkana · 09/01/2008 21:48

It's a rubbish game and not being British I will never understand why it seems to be a compulsory part of every party.

snice · 09/01/2008 21:50

Its the dullest game in the world but -its quite useful pre-tea to get them all to calm down a bit if they've all been running around for an hour. I'm not keen on the whole present in every layer thing though as it just goes on too long.

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 21:52

I like the idea of a sitting down game, particularly before eating, but the more pass the the parcels I see, the more I wonder 'are any of these kids actually enjoying this'?

OP posts:

spicemonster · 09/01/2008 21:53

Actually I've just reread the OP and you're right. It's a bit shit but does calm them down before tea so they don't vomit everywhere.

snice · 09/01/2008 21:53

They don't enjoy it-they just know that its nearly tea time and so the quicker they get on with it the quicker they'll get some crisps

speak2deb · 09/01/2008 21:55

It's rubblish. Musical statues is much more fun.

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 22:04

What's a good alternative sitting down game then, apart from singing songs? I can do singing songs but tbh I'd prefer something more waay heeeyy parteeeey fun action but in a sitting down and resting and digesting fashion.

OP posts:

Dottydot · 09/01/2008 22:05

I used to find it really stressful as a child, worrying about whether I'd get it or not. And now I find it really stressful as an adult, worrying about whether all the children get it or not...

fishie · 09/01/2008 22:08

i am hyperventilating. does this still happen? have i got to do it? can't i just make some parcels and leave them on the doorstep with party bags? i

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 22:09

Dotty, Oh God yes you are so right, as the adult with control of the pause button, assessing how slowly or quickly each child recieves, holds and then passes so you can time the perfect "spontaneous" stop, so each kid can unwrap a load of newspaper with a sticker or roses chocolate in, that took you 45mins to wrap. And you have a cold sweat "feck did I do enough layers" and "feck this is going soooooooo slowly and no one even cares any more".

OP posts:

speak2deb · 09/01/2008 22:12

Musical chairs is also auwful. I've been at kid's parties where it's almost turned into a punch-up.

What about some version of pin the tail on the donkey. Everyone sits down while turns are taken.

Dottydot · 09/01/2008 22:12

I know!!! I was at a party a few months ago and was put in charge of the music - 15 x 5 year old boys - aaarrgghhhh! Nightmare. The only boy who didn't get the parcel was ds2 'cos I kept feeling guilty about stopping the music near him in case people thought it was favouritism - so he ended up not getting it at all!

Janni · 09/01/2008 22:15

Funnily enough I think pass the parcel would be great fun for say eight and overs who really understand what it's all about (but by then probably wouldn't play it 'cos it's uncool), but it's torture to little kids who just can't get their heads around the fact that there has to be one ultimate winner and lots of losers....

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 22:15

speak2deb, yes pin the tail(and variations of) is quiet and funny.

agree with musical chairs and punch up fiasco's. I do a version with newspaper islands that the kids have to stand on and then share (as they get taken away). Promotes balance and co-operation

OP posts:

TellusMater · 09/01/2008 22:16

We put forfeits in each layer. Makes it last longer, and is more fun I think.

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 22:21

Tellus, I think the forfeits would work with older children as Janni suggests, but with 3/4 year olds? I don't hink they would get it, and would increase the anxiety factor.

OP posts:

SSSandy2 · 09/01/2008 22:22

It's as fun as the music you play. You need a song that gets faster and faster and they have to keep in time, they love it.

TellusMater · 09/01/2008 22:24

DD did it at 3. They were pretty simple forfeits though.

DontCallMeBaby · 09/01/2008 22:25

It's fun when you're at a 3yo's birthday party, and you're the mother of the only child who's nearing 4, and is the ONLY child who has the faintest clue what is going on. Poor little mites, hee hee.

stillaslowreader · 09/01/2008 22:28

I found the only solution to this tortuous game was to make a parcel for each child with sweets hats whistles forfeits in each layer. I am not recommending it I am just saying I did it and they liked it.

For a sit-down-after-tea thing I have also handed out a cushion each, turned off the lights and read them a story. This worked surprisingly well.

Original poster

Slubberdegullion · 09/01/2008 22:29

lol at Dontcallmebaby, yes I forgot to add total bewilderment to my list of emotions felt in my OP.

'ohh look here comes a present, nice bright paper, this nice little girl who I have never seen before has just given it to me, oh gooody......NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO this complete shit next to me has taken it away, what the fuck is going on?'

(not sure a 3 year old thinks what the fuck is going on, but they must have an equivalent)

OP posts:

choosyfloosy · 11/01/2008 19:24

yes it is surprisingly crap, certainly at 2 or 3 it is like crime and punishment (LOL slubberdegullion)

having said that, it is infinitely better if you have an old-fashioned party with guests in single figures. it doesn't work with massive groups IMO, even with 2 parcels going round.

FluffyMummy123 · 11/01/2008 19:25

Message withdrawn

shinners07 · 17/01/2008 23:07

Try Blind mans bluff (buff?) - Oldie but a Goodie - blindfold kids one at a time and they have to find the other kids in the room - and tip them, all tipped kids sit down until all are tipped, BUT word of warning if large party tell them they only have to tip 3 or 4 otherwise you'll be there all night! Don't give little prizes for last to be tipped but rather for each Blind Man once they finish - worked a treat for DDs 7th birthday last week - 18 7 year old girls

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