Pass the parcel etiquette (4yo party)

[MrsJohnDeere]

I know pass the parcel is often slated on here but ds1 is very keen to have it at his 4th birthday party. The standard thing here is to have one gift per child (always a pack of choc buttons or a lollipop) with as many layers as children. I thought about doing something slightly different and putting those small bouncy balls that bounce very high in instead of sweets.

Do you think that would be ok or cause great upset? PTP is going to come after the children have had an entertainer for an hour and lunch, so they shold have had their sugar fix. I also thought bouncy ball chaos might then fill the final half hour nicely.

Also, does each layer have to be nice wrapping paper? It seems such a waste, but I'm sure I've seen AIBU threads where people were outraged if Christmas paper or recycled paper was used. In my day if was just newspaper, which seems much more sensible to me.

I know I'm obsessing about very trivial party details but it is my first big party and tis very nerve-wracking!

I used to wrap them with one layer (any old) wrapping paper, then one newspaper. It makes it easier to see if they're ripping off more than on layer. That is, until I realised that I'd never seen a child smile whilst playing it, lol! (sorry)

I'd go with the ball idea but be prepared for the children to get up and play with the bouncy ball rather than wait for the end of PTP.

I don't think they would be unhappy not to get chocolate or sweets.

We have usually wrapped in two types of cheap wrapping paper so it's more clear where one layer finishes and another starts. My friend. always wraps in newspaper. The children don't care what it is wrapped in.

Have fun!

LOL!

I'd go for a small packet of buttons tbh, and although they don't all have to get a turn of the parcel, I'd have a stash of buttons/balls to hand out to the ones who didn't get to unwrap a layer.

Finally - to add to your angst - have you thought about whether you want your DS to win the prize or not?

For my DCs I usually did a mix of choc buttons/small haribo packets and small toys (balls, key rings, little puzzles etc). Usually used newspaper for all the layers except the final present so you can easily distinguish! Also if it's a big party I recommend having two parcels going round to speed it up a bit or the littlies can get a bit bored - and of course make sure that the person doing the music is keeping an eye on who's winning so everyone gets a prize or at least that no-one wins twice!

Birthday child must no, I repeat MUST NOT win the prize in the middle. Unless you want all the other parents and children to think that s/he is a spoiled brat.

hth

Make sure each child gets to unwrap a layer and gets a sweet, even the child who will eventually win. My DD once won the prize but sobbed her heart out as she didn't get a sweetie like everyone else!

Oh, and anohter thing, don't have one child with 3 turns at unwrapping and one child who never gets a turn. This causes horrendous crying sessions.

Each child must have a turn at unwrapping and get a sweet!
They are more interested in the sweets than the main prize!

The main prize in the middle should have proper paper; the outer layers newspaper. Alternating layers is a good idea, the first use I've ever had for DHs pink FT .

When DD was 4 the outer layers each had one jelly baby. The kids were perfectly happy with this. When they are older put in forfeits - the kids actually want to get those rather than sweets.

Ok, I'm sold on the alternate newspaper/wrapping paper layers idea.

No, birthday child will not get to win the main present (dh will be instructed to control music accordingly).

Hmm, still unsure on contents. Maybe a quick game of pass the parcel with choc buttons. 18 children, 2 or 3 parcels on the go? Then musical statues and bouncy balls when they are 'out', with background bouncing from other children as a distraction to speed the game along?

I've bought all these bloomin' bouncy balls and am determined to use them somehow!

Absolutely right, MrsJD - birthday child must never, ever win PTP. It's an unwritten rule

Can't you stick the balls in the party bags?

I have bought a Pass the Parcel set from Party Pieces in the past. Is quite good value as includes prizes for 21 and uses different coloured tissue paper so gets round the issue of the child opening more than one layer.

I had my DD's 4th party a few weeks ago. I also ordered the bubble mats from Party Pieces and they went down a storm (they sound like fireworks).

Oh, and I nicked the 'Teddy's Pants' game that I saw someone post in a thread on here which was also enthusiastically received.

I would put the bouncy balls in the party bags.

I love pass the parcel, sweets and different layers of old wrapping paper used here.

BUT I hate bouncy balls!! I can't imagine the chaos of 18 children bouncing 18 different balls

I hate bouncy balls - one bounced and broke a clock!

I have seen one PTP where the main prize was lots of packets of choc buttons which all the children shared. Maybe just a choc coin in between each wrapper and I think the children were told the main prize was to be shared. I liked this idea and I think the kids liked it too.

Ok, you've convinced me on the bouncy balls. So much for my fab party ideas.

Like the idea of sharing a main prize. May steal that.

Have a few extra layers, then it won't matter if the "coordinator" messes up who has had a prize and who hasn't. Better for all children to have a treat, and a few to have two, than some to miss out entirely im(bitter)e.

Small sweets/choc buttons deffo not bouncy balls. small boxes of raisins if dcs are under 3.

Just dont do what they did at a party dd went to.

When each layer was unwrapped there was nothing in each layer and the child had to leave the circle.

They did each get a sweetie from a tub when they had left the circle but it isn't the same!

So many children in tears...

Wallace I wonder if some old fashioned gp had arranged that "in my day there was only a present at the end"

Wallace - DS went to a party where they did that too, and I remember being at the idea. Are you north of the border too?!

If they need calming down, dont forget Sleeping Lions. (if the entertainer is any good he/she will do that at the end of their bit before the food).

Don't know if they'd be big enough but how about using old children's magazines for the wrapping paper instead of newspaper. A man in our local market sells them 3 for £1 so it needn't be expensive.

Funnily enough Maisie we are in Scotland!

I wonder if we were at the same party!

I have abandoned plans for pass the parcel. I can't be bothered to do it. I think we'll just do musical statues and I'll throw sweets at them when they're out.

I hate pass the parcel. Someone always cries.

I've done stickers in the layers instead of sweets, that went down well (5 yr old girls).

I have this for ptp. I wrap up 1 present for everyone and don't let them unwrap it until the end. Sooo much easier to do toys and stuff. It plays music and will either randomly stop or you control it with the remote. When it stops the lid pops up. Kids love it and I haven't had any tears. A lot less hassle as well