No child’s (or fun adult’s) birthday party is complete without Pass the Parcel.
The thrill of who the music might stop on, the speculation of what the parcel may contain…
Pass the Parcel is a party favourite, that’s for sure.
But, as a conscious consumer, you may have been put off by the waste the game generates. Considering that the parcel consists primarily of virgin wrapping paper (often not recyclable) and plastic tape (only recyclable via Redcycle), and is so commonly filled with cheaply made, mass-produced, useless trinkets – you’re right to feel reluctant about creating a parcel for your upcoming party.
As with most waste-related issues, there’s a simple workaround that doesn’t detract at all from the fun.
Make your wrapping reusable
Aside from being infinitely less wasteful, using fabric to wrap your parcel is an easy way to add a little luxury to your game.
If you have fabric wrapping for birthdays, Christmas, or other events, this would be an excellent opportunity to make use of it.
Scarves, tea/hand towels, and (clean) handkerchiefs also work well, as do solid (not mesh) produce or other drawstring bags. The bags make for especially quick and easy wrapping.
ALTERNATIVELY: If none of these options are appealing or available to you, consider renting linen (i.e. fabric surviettes, placemats, or even small tablecloths) from a local party hire company. I particularly love this option for matching the wrapping to the colour theme of your party.
Choose responsible gifts
I encourage you to use your imagination here, and try to support a local business or commission a local artist or other creator to help you out.
First and foremost, consumables, especially sweets, are always well-received in Pass the Parcel. You can still include them in your waste-free parcel, you just need to think a little differently to avoid the plastic.
Dedicated bulk lolly shops have been around for a long time, and general bulk food shops are becoming increasingly prevalent in local communities. Pay one a visit and buy a range of sweets without the packaging. Encapsulate them in small tins (reused if possible) or even small twists of decorative fabric.
Secondly, little felted (or even carved wood) toys or puppets can bring joy both during Pass the Parcel and also afterwards, to play make-believe or put on a play. They encourage the use of imagination and open-ended thinking.
Another easy inclusion for each layer is to write something on seed paper (which you can plant together sometime after the game is over). You might choose to:
– write jokes;
– describe ideas for charades that the person has to act out (either during Pass the Parcel, or as a separate activity after your game);
– write tongue twisters;
– create join the dots;
– illustrate parts of a treasure map, that when joined together lead to something special that you’ve set up; or
– as an alternative to music, you can write a riddle for each layer that must be solved to determine who receives the parcel next. Everyone gets to help solve the riddles.
Yet another option: bubble wands. They’re easy to make but provide hours of fun. Try different shapes such as a heart, star, moon, leaf, and even animals if you’re feeling game. Whether you’re making them or shopping local, try to opt for the recycled option – there’s no need to use fresh wire, there’s so much available for reuse already.
Once your Pass the Parcel is over, bring out the homemade bubble mix and let the bubbles commence! There’s always something magical about having bubbles floating through your garden or street, don’t you think?
Your final option (in this list, anyway) is to make recycled crayons. Gather the small, forgotten, and rejected pieces of crayon from around your home, and ask other participants if they can contribute too. Place the pieces in a silicon mould and heat in the oven until melted.
The old crayons will combine to form new, multicoloured, exciting crayons that are even more fun to use than they were originally.
This is just a small cross-section of what you might include in your Pass the Parcel. So long as you’re keeping it local and natural, you can’t go wrong.
The better you make the experience, the more successful you will be. Make it fun, do what you can to get the most out of it, and most importantly, ask for feedback for the next Pass the Parcel.
If you know of anyone charged with organising a game, please share this with them, or Pin it for your own use in the future.
