Pass the parcel ideas: prizes for every layer, for kids and adults
Felix Vemmer
Gift guide editor at Gift Ideas AI
Updated · Reviewed
What to put in pass the parcel: cheap layer fillers by age, main prize ideas, funny adult and Christmas versions, how to keep it fair, and what to keep out for little ones.
Short answer
- Best fit
- Wrap one layer per child with a small prize in each, such as stickers, a mini Play-Doh, bubbles, a tattoo sheet or a puzzle cube, and put a £5-£20 ($8-$22) main prize in the middle: a small LEGO set, a plush toy, a craft kit or a game. For adults, mix gag gifts with forfeits or quiz questions between the layers.
- Think twice
- Keep small parts, small balls and latex balloons away from under-3s, skip loose or unlabelled sweets, and save scratch cards, alcohol and rude gags for adult-only parties.
- Budget
- Layer prizes cost roughly 20p-£1 (20 cents to $1) each, so a 10-child parcel costs about £10-£28 ($12-$35) including the main prize.
- Why it works
- Pass the parcel is about the moment the music stops. Cheap, quick-to-unwrap prizes keep the game moving, and a prize in every layer keeps the tears away.
How to build a pass the parcel
- Count the children. Make one layer per child, so everyone unwraps once. With more than about 12 children, wrap two parcels and run them at the same time.
- Put a small prize in every layer. Flat, light prizes are easiest to wrap and keep the parcel from getting lopsided.
- Wrap the main prize first, then build the layers outwards. Use newspaper, brown paper or the children's own drawings, and change the paper for each layer so you can count them.
- Go easy on the tape. Small hands should be able to tear a layer in a few seconds.
- Have a grown-up run the music. Someone who is not playing stops the music and makes sure each child gets a turn. Short pre-recorded clips are fairest.
For a slightly older crowd, add a forfeit or a quiz question on a slip of paper in each layer: the holder answers or does the dare before unwrapping.
If you also need a birthday present for the child, the AI gift finder for kids suggests ideas from their age and interests.
Toddlers, 2-4
Stickers, mini Play-Doh pots, chunky crayons and a soft toy in the middle. No small parts.
Little kids, 5-7
Tattoo sheets, bubbles, pop tubes and scratch-art boards, with a small LEGO set or craft kit as the main prize.
Older kids, 8-11
Puzzle cubes, a Rubik's Cube, a magic 8 ball, slime or a card game. Add quiz questions between layers.
Adults
Gag gifts, forfeits and quiz slips, with chocolates, a game or a funny gadget in the middle.
Christmas
Festive wrapping, novelty socks, mini chocolates and a forfeit per layer. Works for families and offices.
Free fillers
Forfeit slips, homemade prize cards and office perks like "pick the playlist".
Quick picks
- Best for
- One pot per layer for ages 3-6.
- Budget
- About 80p ($0.80) per layer
- Watch out for
- Play-Doh contains wheat. Skip it if a child has a wheat allergy or coeliac disease.
- Best for
- Flat, cheap layer fillers for ages 4-9.
- Budget
- About 20p ($0.20) per layer
- Watch out for
- Some children have sensitive skin.
- Best for
- Layer fillers for little ones. Every child loves bubbles.
- Budget
- About 15p ($0.16) per layer
- Watch out for
- Can leak if squashed. Wrap in a small bag.
- Best for
- One board per layer for up to 16 children aged 5-8.
- Budget
- About £1.40 ($1.40) per layer
- Watch out for
- The stylus is pointed. Not for under-4s.
- Best for
- Ages 6-11, and adult Christmas parcels.
- Budget
- About £1 ($1) per layer
- Watch out for
- Small pieces. Treat them as 6+.
- Best for
- The main prize for ages 4-9.
- Budget
- About £20 ($22)
- Watch out for
- Small parts. Not if under-3s are at the party.
- Best for
- An electronic version for ages 4+: the plush plays and stops the music.
- Budget
- About £13 ($15)
- Watch out for
- A game in itself, not a prize. Few reviews so far.
- Best for
- A family or adult main prize that everyone can play.
- Budget
- About £15 ($17)
- Watch out for
- Ages 7 and up.
- Best for
- A funny adult layer prize that still works at the office.
- Budget
- About £5 ($5)
- Watch out for
- A joke gift. Pair it with a real main prize.
- Best for
- The gag main prize at a hen do or Christmas with friends.
- Budget
- About £8 ($9)
- Watch out for
- It swears out loud. Not for kids or the office.
| Gift | Best for | Budget | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play-Doh 10-pack | One pot per layer for ages 3-6. | About 80p ($0.80) per layer | Play-Doh contains wheat. Skip it if a child has a wheat allergy or coeliac disease. |
| Temporary tattoo sheets, 30 pack | Flat, cheap layer fillers for ages 4-9. | About 20p ($0.20) per layer | Some children have sensitive skin. |
| Mini bubble wands, 64 pack | Layer fillers for little ones. Every child loves bubbles. | About 15p ($0.16) per layer | Can leak if squashed. Wrap in a small bag. |
| Melissa & Doug scratch art set | One board per layer for up to 16 children aged 5-8. | About £1.40 ($1.40) per layer | The stylus is pointed. Not for under-4s. |
| Puzzle cubes, 12 pack | Ages 6-11, and adult Christmas parcels. | About £1 ($1) per layer | Small pieces. Treat them as 6+. |
| LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box | The main prize for ages 4-9. | About £20 ($22) | Small parts. Not if under-3s are at the party. |
| Bluey Pass the Parcel musical game | An electronic version for ages 4+: the plush plays and stops the music. | About £13 ($15) | A game in itself, not a prize. Few reviews so far. |
| Pass the Pigs | A family or adult main prize that everyone can play. | About £15 ($17) | Ages 7 and up. |
| Squirrel in underwear air freshener | A funny adult layer prize that still works at the office. | About £5 ($5) | A joke gift. Pair it with a real main prize. |
| The Official BS Button | The gag main prize at a hen do or Christmas with friends. | About £8 ($9) | It swears out loud. Not for kids or the office. |
Prizes for the layers and the middle
Prices change, so check the listings before you order, and buy multipacks well ahead of the party. If you are in the UK, Australia or New Zealand, the same brands are easy to find at local toy shops and supermarkets.
Play-Doh Modeling Compound 10-Pack Case of Colors
Play Doh Modeling Compound 10-Pack Case of Assorted Colors, Non-Toxic 2 oz. Cans, Back to School Gifts, Prizes, & Party Favors, Preschool Toys for Kids, Ages 2+ (Amazon Exclusive)
One pot per layer costs well under a pound, everyone knows the brand, and modelling clay is one of the few toys allowed for the youngest age group.
- Best for
- Layer fillers at parties for ages 3 to 6, including mixed parties with younger siblings.
- Personalization
- Match the colours to the party theme, or put a name sticker on each pot.
- Avoid if
- A child has a wheat allergy or coeliac disease. Play-Doh contains wheat.
Deluxe Scratch Art Set
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Combo Scratch Art Set: 16 Boards, 2 Stylus Tools, 3 Frames Scratch Paper Book, Art Supplies for Kids Ages 4+ - FSC-Certified
Sixteen boards in one set cover a big party, they are flat and easy to wrap, and children can use them on the spot.
- Best for
- Classroom-sized parties for ages 5 to 8, one board per layer.
- Personalization
- Write each child's initial on the back of a board so their prize feels personal.
- Avoid if
- All the guests are under 4. The scratching stylus is pointed.
Miniature Puzzle Game
Balance IQ Party Favor Games - Cube Puzzle Stocking Stuffers for Kids and Adults - 12 Puzzles
Like the puzzle in a cracker, each cube keeps the winner busy for a few minutes and costs about a pound.
- Best for
- Ages 6 to 11, and adult Christmas parcels where a brain teaser goes down well.
- Personalization
- Turn it into a race: whoever solves their cube first unwraps an extra layer.
- Avoid if
- Under-3s are in the circle. The puzzles have small pieces.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 Building Toy Set - Featuring Storage, Includes Train, Car, and a Tiger Figure, and Playset for Kids, Boys, and Girls Ages 4-99
It feels like a real present without blowing the budget, and almost every child is happy to win LEGO.
- Best for
- The main prize at a party for ages 4 to 9.
- Personalization
- Tape a 'build me a…' challenge card to the box.
- Avoid if
- Toddlers will be at the party. The bricks are a choking hazard for under-3s.
Unicorn Plush Toy
Aurora® Vibrant Bright Fancies™ Jellyroll Unicorn™ Stuffed Animal - Eye-Catching Fun - Delightful Cuddles - Pink 8 Inches
A soft toy is safe for the youngest guests and feels like a proper prize to a toddler.
- Best for
- The main prize at a second, third or fourth birthday.
- Personalization
- Add a name tag, or choose the birthday child's favourite animal from the same soft-toy range.
- Avoid if
- The children are older and have outgrown soft toys.
DIY Slime Kit
Elmer’s Fluffy Slime Kit, Includes Translucent Color Glue, Glitter Glue, Fluffy Slime Activator, 4 Count - Perfect for Parties, Gift, Activity Time
Slime kits are a favourite with this age, and Elmer's is a brand parents recognise.
- Best for
- The main prize at a party for 7 to 10-year-olds who love making things.
- Personalization
- Add a labelled tub so the slime goes home sealed.
- Avoid if
- You know the winner's parents hate slime at home. At a big mixed party, it is a gamble.
Squirrel in Underpants Air Freshener
Mcphee Squirrel Standing in Underwear Funny Air Freshener
It is cheap, clean and gets a laugh when it is unwrapped, which is exactly what an adult layer needs.
- Best for
- Adult parcels at the office or a Secret Santa-style party.
- Personalization
- Pair it with a forfeit slip such as 'do your best squirrel impression'.
- Avoid if
- You want a sincere prize. Use it as a layer, not the main prize.
The Official BS Button
Bullshit Button – The Official Hilarious BS Button with Sound Effects & Flashing Light – Perfect Gag Gift for Friends, Family, and Co-workers - Batteries Included
It is the classic gag prize: everyone has a go at pressing it before the night is over.
- Best for
- A hen do or a Christmas party with friends and adult family.
- Personalization
- Write 'for whoever talks the most nonsense' on the box.
- Avoid if
- Children are present, or it is a work party. The button swears out loud.
Forfeits and quiz questions between the layers
For adults, the prizes matter less than the moment. Slip a forfeit, a dare or a quiz question into every layer, and the holder has to do it before they unwrap. Put a decent prize in the middle and the game runs itself at a Christmas party or a hen do.
- Best for
- Christmas parties, hen dos, family gatherings and office parties.
- Avoid if
- Some guests would hate being put on the spot. Make every forfeit optional, with a quiz question as the alternative.
Simple plan
- 1Write the slipsMix easy quiz questions, silly dares ("sing the chorus of a Christmas song") and kind ones ("pay someone a compliment").
- 2Add small prizesMini chocolates, novelty socks or a funny gift in some of the layers.
- 3Keep it optionalAnyone can swap a dare for a quiz question. At work, keep everything office-friendly.
Fillers by age
Toddlers (2-4). Sticker sheets, mini Play-Doh pots, chunky crayons, a board book in the middle or a soft toy as the main prize. Avoid anything small enough to swallow.
Little kids (5-7). Temporary tattoos, mini bubble wands, pop tubes, scratch-art boards, a mini window-art kit. A small LEGO set, a craft kit or a plush toy makes the main prize.
Older kids (8-11). Puzzle cubes, a Rubik's Cube, a magic 8 ball, fortune-teller fish, card games such as UNO. Slime kits and small LEGO sets work as the main prize, and quiz questions between layers keep them hooked.
Sweets. Individually wrapped sweets with an allergen label are a classic filler. Ask parents about allergies in advance. In the UK, the 14 major allergens must be emphasised on prepacked food labels, in the US 9, and in Australia and New Zealand the labels carry a bold "Contains" statement.
Funny pass the parcel ideas for adults
The adult version works best as a party game with a few laughs, not a gift exchange. Mix:
- Gag gifts: a squirrel-in-underwear air freshener, a BS button, the Screaming Goat, novelty socks.
- Treats: mini chocolates, a tiny hot sauce, a bag of truffles.
- Forfeits and quiz questions on slips of paper in every layer.
- A proper main prize: a box of chocolates, a game such as Exploding Kittens or Pass the Pigs, or a bottle at an adults-only party.
Keep scratch cards and alcohol for adult-only parcels. In the UK, the minimum age for National Lottery scratchcards has been 18 since 2021, and you cannot buy alcohol under 18 (21 in the US).
Christmas pass the parcel
Wrap the layers in festive paper and add a Christmas forfeit to each: sing a line of a carol, name three reindeer, do your best Santa laugh. Mini chocolates, novelty socks and puzzle cubes make good layer prizes, with a family game or a box of chocolates in the middle.
What to skip
Before you wrap
Worth it when
- Every layer has a small prize, so nobody goes home empty-handed.
- The prizes suit the youngest child in the circle.
- Each layer tears open in a few seconds.
Skip it when
- Small parts, small balls, magnets or latex balloons with toddlers around.
- Loose or unlabelled sweets, or anything with nuts at a kids' party.
- A main prize so expensive it makes the game feel unfair.
Latex balloons hidden in layers are a choking hazard for young children, and some people have latex allergies. Leave them on the walls.
Do not put real scratch cards, alcohol or rude gags in a parcel for children or a mixed-age party.
Heavy tape, foil and glitter wrapping slow the game down and frustrate small hands. Newspaper and brown paper tear easily and recycle well.
Safety sources and references
- CPSC: small parts for toys and children's products
- CPSC: Child Safety Protection Act requirements
- Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne: choking prevention
- UK government: food allergy advice
- FDA: food allergies
- UK government: National Lottery minimum age
Common questions
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