Pass the Parcel

Summary: Pass the Parcel game is similar to musical chairs, but with a wrapped package.

Ages: From 3 to adult

Recommended Number of Players:
Between 3 and 20

Equipment:
A prize wrapped in several layers
Music available

Set Up:
Wrap the prize in several layers, using both paper and boxes and other forms of wrapping.

How to Play:
The players sit in a circle and pass the parcel while the music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the parcel must un-wrap a layer. This continues until the last layer is removed.

Winner:
The player who unwraps the prize is the winner.

Variation 1:
The same number of prizes as players are wrapped in the parcel. As each player un-wraps a layer they receive a prize and sit out for the remainder of the game. The final prize is usually slightly better, but not essential – everyone’s a winner.

Variation 2:
One prize is wrapped in many layers, but each layer has a different message that directs the player holding the parcel to pass it to someone else. For example the message might read ‘pass to the person opposite to where you are sitting’ or ‘pass to a person with brown eyes’. A different message is contained in each layer, until the final player un-wraps the prize.


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