Poem Unwrap the Gift Game
Supplies: Gift, box, wrapping paper and slips of paper

The Poem Unwrap the Gift Game is similar to the Gift Passing Game / Pass the Parcel Game with the difference being that this one gives you a poem that helps determine who gets the Gift next. These rhymes are geared towards a children’s birthday party.

Poem Unwrap the Gift Game Prep & Play
1. To play Unwrap the Gift game, you’ll need to wrap a gift in layers and layers of wrapping paper and include a one strip of paper per wrapped layer. Each piece of paper contains a short rhyme to identify where the gift goes next. Please remember that you wrap your first layer and then add the last clue, wrap the next layer and add the next to last clue and so on.

See Rhymes below.

2. How many Layers for Unwrap the Gift?
Well there are two options:
a. One layer for each player. The only thing with this method is that you need to know exactly how many people show up and if one more or one less shows up then you need to add or subtract a layer of wrapping paper.

b. Do a set amount of wrapped layers and when the last layer is unwrapped the game is over.
– Note: When wrapping the gift use at least 2 different wrapping papers so visual the guest will know when they have unwrap the layer. So if you use pink paper for one layer and purple for the next you won’t have someone unwrapping 2 layers by accident.

3. How do you make sure that the poems match the guests?
Well in order to make sure your poems match guests in attendance, you either have to write rhymes / poems based off each guest or have a back up solution.

Another solution is to that works well for kid’s birthday parties is to have buttons or pictures that can be taped on their shirt that represents the poem. Then randomly hand out the buttons and play the game.

Playing Unwrap the Gift Game:
1. Grab your wrapped gift and invite everyone in the room and have them sit in a circle facing each other.
2. Announce that you are going to play Unwrap the Gift game. (Hand out buttons now, if using that method)
3. Explain that when you receive the gift, you’ll need to Unwrap 1 layer of wrapping paper and read the next ryhme / poem to determine who gets the gift next. The last person to unwrap the last layer of wrapping paper wins the gift and once you have had you turn unwrapping the you are out of the game.
4. We suggest the Party Host (Mom) save a spot in the circle and start the game off so everyone understands how it is played.



Rhymes / Poems
Here are rhymes / poem for each layer, please note you can change the order and add your own clues to better match your group. Another way to play is to try and place direction clues to include right and left so that if you have more than one person wearing a color, that you can identify who gets the gift next.
Note: When playing with general clues, when more than one person has the same color select the person with the most of that color. Your other option is to use the left and right clues which are further down the page.

1. How do we find the one who goes? The one with many ribbons or bows.

2. The one for this we share, who has something purple to wear?

3. The next one we will call, is someone who is very tall.

4. This is now what has been said. Who is wearing something red?

5. Now what do you think? Who is wearing lots of pink?

6. The next thing that we care, who has the longest hair?

7. The one who now is right, is wearing something very white.

8. Next you see what we mean, who is wearing something green?

9. And now who is a sport, someone who is a bit short.

10. We have another clue. Who is wearing mostly blue?

11. Now we will get, the one who hasn’t played yet?

Additional ideas towards bottom of the page: 

The same clues for Unwrap the Gift using Left or Right directions
1. How do we find the one who goes? The one on my right with ribbons or bows.

2. The one for this we share, is someone on my left that has something purple to wear?

3. The next one we will call, is someone who is very tall.

4. This is now what has been said. Who on my left is wearing something red?

5. Now what do you think? Someone on my left is wearing lots of pink?

6. The next thing that we care, who has the longest hair?

7. The one who now is on my right that is wearing something very white.

8. Next you see what we mean, who to my right is wearing green?

9. And now who is a sport, someone who is a bit short.

10. For someone on my left we have another clue. Who is wearing mostly blue?

11. Now we will get, the one who hasn’t played yet?

Add and subtract clues as needed, here are some additional Rhyme / Poem Ideas:
– This person shouldn’t hold back, but they are wearing something black.
– Wait and see if this gift passes, the one who is next is wearing glasses
– Your favorite desert might be Jell-O for the one who is wearing yellow

Thanks, J Peers