Rainy Day Projects

Pass the Parcel Obstacle Course

This combines the familiar birthday tradition of pass-the-parcel with the physical challenge of a simple obstacle course you build from household furniture and cushions. Each child carries the wrapped package through the course before passing it on — so instead of sitting in a circle waiting, everyone is moving the whole time. For ages 5–8, the physical coordination required keeps it genuinely challenging without being frustrating, and the parcel at the center of it all anchors the birthday theme.

Ages
5–8
Time
20 min
Adult help
Light adult help
Mess
Low mess

Before you start

Set the course up before calling the kids in — you want three to five obstacles in a loop through the living room or hallway: a row of cushions to hop between, a low blanket tunnel made from two chairs with a sheet draped over, a spot where they must carry the parcel under one arm and spin once, and a finish line made from two pieces of tape. Wrap a small folded piece of paper or a simple note inside a box with several layers of newspaper so unwrapping feels like a reward at the end. The game most often stalls when children drop the parcel mid-course and argue about where to restart; decide the rule before you begin — restart from the last obstacle, not from the beginning. Wind down by having the final player unwrap the outermost layer and read a birthday challenge (a silly movement, like 'hop on one foot and sing happy birthday') written on the paper inside.

You will need

  • Sofa cushions4–6 cushions for stepping stones or a tunnel base
  • Two chairsSturdy dining or folding chairs for the tunnel frame
  • A large bed sheet or blanketDraped over chairs to make a low crawl-through tunnel
  • Masking tapeMark the start line, finish line, and obstacle spots on the floor
  • Newspaper or old newspaper pagesSeveral sheets for wrapping the parcel in multiple layers
  • A small box or folded paper bundleThe parcel core — a handwritten note or silly challenge inside works well
  • A timer or phoneoptionalOptional; time each child's run and see if the group beats the total

Steps

  1. 1

    Build the course beforehand

    Lay out four to five obstacles in a loop: a row of cushions to jump across, a sheet-draped chair tunnel to crawl through, a spin zone marked with tape, and a clear finish line. Walk through it yourself once to check the spacing is right for a 5-year-old.

    Tip: Keep the total loop under 25 feet so kids aren't waiting long between turns.

  2. 2

    Wrap the parcel

    Put a folded piece of paper with a written birthday challenge inside the small box. Wrap the box in at least four layers of newspaper, securing each with a small strip of masking tape. The parcel should feel satisfyingly chunky and a little awkward to carry.

    Tip: Make the outer layers loose enough to peel easily so the final unwrap feels exciting, not frustrating.

  3. 3

    Explain the rules clearly

    Line the children up at the start. Say: 'You carry the birthday parcel through every obstacle without dropping it. If you drop it, pick it up from exactly where it landed and keep going. When you cross the finish line, hand it to the next person.' Demonstrate the full course once yourself at a relaxed pace.

    Tip: Demonstrate a drop-and-recover yourself so kids see it is not a penalty, just part of the game.

  4. 4

    Run the relay

    Send one child at a time. Stand near the most physically demanding obstacle — usually the tunnel — to spot younger or less confident children. Encourage the waiting children to count aloud as each runner goes. Keep your phone nearby to time runs if you are doing a competitive version.

    Tip: If a child is nervous about the tunnel, widen it by spreading the chairs slightly before their turn.

  5. 5

    Do the final unwrap

    After each child has run at least once, call the group to sit in a circle. Whoever is holding the parcel tears off the outermost layer and reads the birthday challenge inside aloud. Everyone does the challenge together — hop on one foot, do five jumping jacks, or take a bow. This brings the relay to a shared, active ending.

    Tip: Write two or three challenge notes and hide them in different layers so the unwrapping itself has suspense.

Try it another way

  • For a longer game with eight or more children, run two parallel courses side by side and have the teams race each other simultaneously.
  • For a quieter indoor version, replace the physical obstacles with balance tasks: walk a taped line heel-to-toe while holding the parcel above your head.
  • If a younger sibling is joining, let them run the first obstacle only, then hand off to an older child to complete the rest of the course.

Keep in mind

  • Check that chair legs are stable before draping the sheet — push in on the chair backs to confirm they will not tip if a child leans on them crawling through.

What they get out of it

Children practice taking turns patiently, carrying out a sequence of physical tasks in order, and encouraging others while they wait.

Take it to the table

Materials checklist, the steps and the variations on one Letter page.

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