Should you pass on Pass the Parcel?

It's a game that children love to play, but adults hate to prepare... 

Every party I've been to, when Pass the Parcel is announced, there is a cheer from the children.  Is it the anticipation of the prize in the middle?  Is the thought that all you need to do to win a prize is rip of a layer of paper?  Is the attempt to guess when the last layer will appear?  
For the adults, this is a stressful game.  Should you put a prize in every layer?  I asked this on my facebook page a while ago and there were some interesting answers.  

Some, including my sister, though that prizes should be random.  Children need to learn that they can't always win.  It's a life lesson.  Others said that a lollipop kept the children interested and occupied while others were having their turn.  Another suggested stickers.  

In the past I have used sweets and I have also used little party blowers - makes for a noisy 5 minutes, but you can avoid that sugar high...

Another interesting aspect was that of having to wrap up the parcel.  Not many people enjoy doing it... When I wrapped the parcel for our launch party, there were 25 layers.  It took over 8 metres of wrapping paper and nearly an hour to do.  (My helpful husband, who normally has to wrap the Pass the Parcels in our family, took great pleasure in laughing at me.)  
For one parent who attended the Launch party, she said that it was something she HATED, and one of the reasons she would consider booking PartyEase Portishead for her child's party.

A friend talked about a party she had attended with her 4 year old party, where the Pass the Parcel was a wrapped up box.  When the music stopped, the child holding the parcel was given a sweet, and the music started again without any paper being taken off.  Now forgive me if you like this version, but surely half the fun of a Pass the Parcel is to rip the paper off?  I expect it saves on time and mess.

Another suggested that actually, a main prize in the middle isn't needed.  Again, I would consider this part of the anticipation, and find it hard to imagine a child excitedly removing the last layer of paper to find... just another sweet - but we're all different, and that's what makes each party diverse and fun.

For older children, I have another version of Pass the Parcel - no music or wrapping paper is involved, but it's great fun, and keeps the children involved and excited.  I'm not going to share it here... book me for a party and find out! 

If you would like a couple of child-free hours on December 20th, please check out my Facebook event.  2 hours of fun for them, 2 hours of freedom for you to do as you please.  Perfect.  


I would love to hear what you think about Pass the Parcel.  Feel free to leave me a comment. 

The Launch

Well, after 6 weeks of talking about it, planning, gathering supplies and people, PartyEase Portishead has officially launched.

Although I have told you about a party that has already taken place, this was the biggie!  

Twenty One children joined me in the afternoon, to experience a PartyEase party.  It was daunting as their parents were asked to stay and fill in an evaluation form.  But they were all lovely and supportive, which made things easier. 

As the children arrived, I introduced myself and guided them over to the table where there were crayons and stickers, and explained it was their job to decorate the tablecloth.  This helped settle them into the party, and also avoided the running around waiting for the party to start that happens all too often.

Most of them enjoyed themselves, and before long the table was covered with hearts, rainbows, animals and many random shapes!

One parent on their evaluation said of this activity

"Great idea!"

Another commented

"Loved the tablecloth idea, all involved and no children running wild!"

Our first game was Musical Islands.  Lots of fun dancing, and less stress for the parents as I provide a basket of prizes (both edible and non-edible - another job that you don't have to do! 

A quick game of musical statues followed before sitting down to play Pass the Parcel.

Now, there were 25 layers to the Pass the Parcel. It took nearly an hour to wrap, and over 8 metres of wrapping paper. It's one of the jobs that many dislike doing because of it being so time consuming.  As one parent said "I hate wrapping pass the parcel!"

Simon Says proved a popular game.  I chose to play this as a time filler while my wonderful friends set out the party tea (which is not included in the package price - sorry.)  We played for fun, nobody was out, and the children enjoyed following regular actions as well as the more silly ones, while trying not to be caught out.

While a few children finished their tea, I kept the children calm by telling them a familiar story, and encouraging them to join in with actions.   This was mainly aimed at the younger children, but the older ones did listen and mostly join in too. 

"During the story, every eye was on Rachael."

Then it was time for the parachute games.  

I chose a selection of team games using balls, and a game of cat and mouse where the children could chase and let off steam.  This particularly appealed to the older children, and it was good to see that they took care to be gentle with the younger ones. 

We ended with a game of Musical Bumps,

Not quite the musical
bumps we expected...

before handing out the party bags.  Again, the party bag service seems very popular with the parents, who thought the £1.50 charge per bag was good value and meant another thing that parents didn't have to organise!

There were a few brilliant suggestions which I intend to implement to make the booking process smoother, and the pricing structure easier to follow. 

What did the parents conclude?  Here are a few statements from the evaluation forms.

"2 hours of stress-free entertainment!  Parents can provide food and enjoy the party as much as the children!   ...Lovely to see the children enjoying 'proper' party games and not just sat watching an entertainer."

"Rachael engaged with the children really well and kept them interested.  It was very well organised."

"Rachael was very personable and welcoming.  There was a good variety of games for the children... My boys were both entertained and had great fun.  I would recommend to friends."

"Great value - having recently been looking for a party like this, this is a great price.  ...Rachael did an amazing job of entertaining a wide range of children."

"She has the patience of a saint!"

"I would recommend PartyEase to my friends with younger children.  All of the children were kept entertained through the whole party."

"I would def. recommend especially for parents that like a traditional plarty but don't want to do it themselves."

This evening I had a message from the parent of two children who came to the party.

"Thank you for having us.  When we left the party, my two commented on what a great party it had been."

I agree - I had a fab time too!

(a big thank you to Lisa and Emma for helping me with putting out the party tea and clearing it up afterwards.  As this isn't part of the plan, it was great that they could act as party host/client for me in this way. )

Party Bags - Yes or No?

In recent years, it's become normal practise to hand out party bags to guests as they leave. In fact, it has almost become expected.  I know when I have hosted my children's parties, their friends have asked where their party bag is.  I've even handed them out to children who have attended my (and my husband's) significant age parties. (Not telling you how old -sorry!)

As part of my PARTYEASE business, I want to take the pressure off of parents in their party planning, and so offer 3 levels of party bags.  However, I like to know what people like in the bags, and their views of them.  It was quite interesting to read the comments that people left.

"I hate them!  Full of tat that clutters up the house and is rarely used!  Much prefer to give a book!"

"Why does a child who attends a party get a present?  A prize or 2 from winning a game of musical chairs should be enough and a slice of cake!  I'm old school - things are turning too American."

"I've always liked party bags.  We always had them.  I like crayons, little colouring books, little story books, sweeties, chocolate, bubbles, a ball or little toy, stationery bits and bobs.  And an all important slice of cake."

"Got to be Stickers!"

"Less is more.  I only put one small gift that they can take away and make at home, something to remember the party by.  Otherwise, it all gets too much.  I think it was Ruby Wax who made a famous joke about how in London children are upset if they don't come away from parties with at least 'a flight on concorde ticket!"

"I like to make them like I used to have them.  Little toys that are simple and good fun to play with.  Like a jumping frog or bird whistle (just add water - remember them?)  Got to have a balloonand bubbles and a piece of cake too.  The simple ones are the best."

"I like a lucky dip where the child takes a gift out of a box on the way out and is presented with a slice of birthday cake."

It was interesting to see how opinions differ.

At PARTYEASE I like to offer quality party bags.  I enjoy sourcing gifts that are fun, can be useful and are traditional.  a £2 party bag consists of 5 quality items which are suitable for most children.  However, I can easily provide a gift lucky dip option or even books (though cost will depend on the price of sourcing them.)

An example of party bag contents.  

I can be totally flexible on what you want for party bags - as my findings show, people have mixed feelings on them, which is why you may choose not to give bags, or like me, you enjoy sourcing the goods yourself. 

I would love to know what you think.

Are party bags an integral part of the party or an extra that quite frankly, you could do without?

What do you like to see in a party bag, or do you prefer an alternative?

Please feel free to comment below- it would be great to hear from you.