Plastic Wrap Ball Party Game

Q: Is this the Christmas dice game with oven mitts?

Yes, with mitts added. On the Oven mitts sheet the unwrapper wears both mitts, and in its one-die version a six wins the ball and the next six takes it away. One gift in many layers plays the same way with a boxed gift.

Press Print this list for the classic rules: one player unwraps while the next rolls two dice for doubles.

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Classic rules (two dice)1: Sit in a circle. The first player takes the ball and the player on their left takes two dice in a bowl.Who goes first is the host's call. The youngest player is a common choice.
2: On Go, the holder unwraps while the roller rolls again and again for doubles.Both dice have to land flat in the bowl to count.
3: Anything that falls out belongs to the player unwrapping at that moment.Drop each prize behind you and keep going.
4: On doubles the roller shouts Doubles and the unwrapping stops at once.A prize that is only half out stays in the ball for the next player.
5: The ball and the dice each move one place to the left.The roller becomes the unwrapper, and the next player along rolls.
6: Hands only: no teeth and no scissors, and the ball stays over the tray.The tray catches what falls, so nothing rolls under the sofa.
7: Play goes around and around until the center prize comes out.Whoever frees it keeps it.
8: House options: one hand only, or a player with two prizes hands the next one to someone with none.Agree on house options before the first roll. No version of this game is official.

Next step Another passing game: pass the gift

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Build the ball 8

1: Set the best prize in the middle and wind wrap around it until it is a tight ball. This is the center prize that every turn works toward.
2: Lay a small prize against the ball and wind around it two or three more times. A layer is finished when the prize under it cannot be seen.
3: Keep adding prizes and wrap, giving the ball a quarter turn each time so it stays round. A round ball is harder to grip than a flat one.
4: Tear the wrap every few layers and start a new piece. Short pieces mean more ends to find. One long piece unrolls in a single turn.
5: Plan a layer for every player and five to spare. Then everyone has a turn and the game lasts more than one lap.
6: Put the lightest prizes in the outer layers and the better ones nearer the middle. The what-to-wrap sheets are listed in that order.
7: Finish with two plain layers, so no prize shows on the outside. Press the last end down flat.
8: Set the ball on a tray with two dice in a bowl, and seat everyone in a circle. A table works as well as the floor.

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Classic rules (two dice) 8

1: Sit in a circle. The first player takes the ball and the player on their left takes two dice in a bowl. Who goes first is the host's call. The youngest player is a common choice.
2: On Go, the holder unwraps while the roller rolls again and again for doubles. Both dice have to land flat in the bowl to count.
3: Anything that falls out belongs to the player unwrapping at that moment. Drop each prize behind you and keep going.
4: On doubles the roller shouts Doubles and the unwrapping stops at once. A prize that is only half out stays in the ball for the next player.
5: The ball and the dice each move one place to the left. The roller becomes the unwrapper, and the next player along rolls.
6: Hands only: no teeth and no scissors, and the ball stays over the tray. The tray catches what falls, so nothing rolls under the sofa.
7: Play goes around and around until the center prize comes out. Whoever frees it keeps it.
8: House options: one hand only, or a player with two prizes hands the next one to someone with none. Agree on house options before the first roll. No version of this game is official.

Oven mitts (teens and adults) 7

1: Play the classic rules with a pair of oven mitts on the tray beside the ball. Thick winter mittens or work gloves do the same job.
2: The unwrapper must have both mitts on before touching the ball. The dice start rolling the moment the ball changes hands, mitts on or not.
3: On doubles, the ball and the mitts are handed over together. Pull the mitts off yourself. Nobody grabs.
4: Mitts stay on for the whole turn. A dropped mitt goes back on before the unwrapping goes on. The roller keeps rolling while the mitt is found.
5: One-die version: the die goes around the circle, a 6 wins the ball and mitts, and the next 6 takes them away. Slower to start and louder once it does.
6: Harder still: add a hat and a scarf that must go on before the mitts. Leave them on the tray between turns.
7: The center prize goes to whoever gets it out, mitts and all. Applause for anyone who managed a single layer.

Music stop, no dice (ages 6 and up) 7

1: Sit in a circle with the ball. One adult runs the music and turns away from the circle. Any song with a clear beat works.
2: While the music plays, the ball goes around the circle from hand to hand. Pass, do not throw.
3: When the music stops, the player holding the ball unwraps until the music starts again. Everyone else counts out loud to help.
4: Whatever comes out in that time is theirs to keep. A prize still stuck in the wrap travels on with the ball.
5: Stops are short: about a slow count of ten. Short stops give more players a turn.
6: The adult may peek, so that every child gets a turn at the ball. Nobody minds, and everyone knows.
7: The game ends when the center prize is out. With young players, make the center a prize to share.

Two balls racing (20 players or more) 7

1: Build two balls with the same number of layers and the same prizes in the same order. Mark them with two colors of ribbon so the teams can tell them apart.
2: Split the room into two circles, each with a ball, a tray and two dice. Count off one, two, one, two so friends are split up.
3: Both circles start on the same Go and play the classic rules. Each circle watches its own dice.
4: Players keep what they unwrap, as in the classic game. The race is for the center prize only.
5: The first circle to reach its center prize wins the race. The whole circle stands up to show it has finished.
6: The other circle plays on until its ball is done too. Nobody loses the prizes still inside.
7: One referee walks between the circles and settles any argument about doubles. The referee's call is final.

One gift in many layers (paper and boxes) 7

1: Put one gift in a small box and wrap the box in paper. This sheet uses gift wrap and boxes, and no plastic wrap at all.
2: Set that box inside a bigger one and wrap again. Keep going: a layer for every player and five to spare. Newspaper is fine for the middle layers.
3: Tie ribbon around some layers and knot it twice. Every knot costs a player a few more seconds.
4: Sit in a circle with the package, a pair of oven mitts and one die. Put the package on a tray in the middle, where everyone can reach it.
5: Roll the die and pass it on. A 6 puts you in the mitts, unwrapping. The die never stops moving around the circle.
6: The next 6, from anyone, takes the mitts and the package away in the middle of a tear. Hand them over at once, even with a flap in your hand.
7: Whoever opens the last box keeps the gift. Or make the last gift one for the whole table to share.

Gentle version (young children) 6

1: Wrap in tissue paper or newspaper, one sheet for each layer, lightly taped. No plastic wrap in this version.
2: Put a sticker sheet or a small soft toy under every layer, enough for one each. Count the children first, then the layers.
3: No dice, no mitts and no racing: the ball goes around the circle to music. A grown-up works the music and watches the circle.
4: When the music stops, the child holding the ball takes off one layer and keeps what is under it. One layer, then the music starts again.
5: A child who already has a prize passes the ball to the next child without one. Everybody ends with one prize.
6: Everyone opens the last layer together. The center holds one prize for the whole group to share.

What to wrap: children (no food) 20

Animal-shaped eraser Outer layers.
Bookmark with a tassel Outer layers.
Bubble wand, sealed Middle layers.
Cardboard kaleidoscope Near the center.
Child-size flashlight The center prize.
Deck of matching-game cards Middle layers.
Foam glider plane Middle layers.
Glow bracelet, still in its tube Outer layers.
Jump rope, coiled flat Near the center.
Mini jigsaw puzzle Middle layers.
Mini notepad with a cover Outer layers.
Palm-size stuffed animal Near the center.
Patterned pencil Outer layers.
Plastic kazoo Middle layers.
Sheet of stickers Outer layers.
Sheet of temporary tattoos Outer layers.
Slap bracelet Middle layers.
Small box of crayons Outer layers.
Stick of sidewalk chalk Middle layers.
Yo-yo with its string wound Near the center.

What to wrap: teens 20

Bag of microwave popcorn Outer layers.
Carabiner clip Middle layers.
Deck of playing cards in its box Near the center.
Enamel pin on its card Outer layers.
Folding phone stand Near the center.
Full-size chocolate bar Middle layers.
Hot chocolate packet Outer layers.
Keychain with a charm Middle layers.
Pack of gel pens Outer layers.
Pack of gum Outer layers.
Pair of fuzzy socks, rolled Middle layers.
Phone grip Middle layers.
Pocket notebook with an elastic band Middle layers.
Portable phone charger Near the center.
String of battery lights Near the center.
Tube of lip balm Outer layers.
Twisty puzzle cube Middle layers.
Velvet scrunchie Outer layers.
Water bottle stickers Outer layers.
Wireless earbuds in their case The center prize.

What to wrap: adults 20

Bright luggage tag Outer layers.
Folded dish towel Middle layers.
Four tea bags in a paper sleeve Outer layers.
Hand warmer packets Outer layers.
Jar opener Middle layers.
Kitchen sponge in a silly shape Outer layers.
Mini flashlight keychain Middle layers.
Packet of flower seeds Outer layers.
Pair of wool socks Middle layers.
Reusable shopping bag Middle layers.
Scented candle in a tin Near the center.
Set of coasters Near the center.
Short wooden spoon Middle layers.
Small jar of jam Near the center.
Souvenir refrigerator magnet Outer layers.
Star-shaped cookie cutter Outer layers.
Tape measure keychain Middle layers.
Travel mug with a lid The center prize.
Travel tube of hand cream Near the center.
Wrapped chocolate squares Outer layers.

What to wrap: the office 20

Badge reel Middle layers.
Binder clips in bright colors Outer layers.
Cable clips Outer layers.
Card signed by the boss: first pick of the snacks for a week Near the center.
Card signed by the boss: leave an hour early Near the center.
Desk calendar pad Middle layers.
Desk plant pot Near the center.
Foam stress ball Middle layers.
Good pen in a sleeve Middle layers.
Highlighter in a new color Outer layers.
Instant coffee sticks Outer layers.
Insulated lunch bag Near the center.
Pad of sticky notes Outer layers.
Screen-cleaning cloth Outer layers.
Thin mouse pad, rolled Middle layers.
Tin of mints Outer layers.
USB flash drive on a key ring Middle layers.
Wireless mouse in its box The center prize.
Woven lanyard Middle layers.
Wrapped granola bar Outer layers.

How this list was compiled: Written for this page on 2026-10-02: eight steps for building the ball, six rule sheets and four lists of twenty things to wrap. The game is a folk party game with no governing body: the rules here are common party rules set down in our own words, each sheet is one way to play and no version is official. The music-stop sheet and the gentle version follow the old parlor game pass the parcel as Wikipedia's article Pass the parcel describes it, read on 2026-10-02 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_the_parcel, text under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license): the package goes around to music, and whoever holds it when the music stops takes off wrapping and keeps what is under it. The what-to-wrap lists are our suggestions in order from the outer layers to the center; no brand, shop or price is named, nothing on any list involves money, and the children's list has no food. Two cautions follow the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, read on 2026-10-13: its small parts page (https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Small-Parts-for-Toys-and-Childrens-Products) says children's products for children under 3 that present a choking hazard because of small parts are banned, and its safety education materials (https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Materials) say plastic film on toys and children's products can be a choking hazard. Licence: own work

How it works

The plastic wrap ball party game hides small prizes in a ball of wrap. One player unwraps and keeps what falls out until the next player rolls doubles. The page opens on the classic rules, and no version is official.

Read the full guide

Build the ball, then pick a rule sheet

Choose Build the ball in the menu for the eight steps: the best prize in the middle, a layer for every player and five to spare. The other sheets are ways to play: classic with two dice, oven mitts, music with no dice, two balls racing, a paper package in boxes and a gentle version for young children. Print this list prints the sheet on screen.

What to wrap

Four more sheets list twenty prizes each, for children, teens, adults and the office, in order from the outer layers to the center. The children's list has no food.

For a Christmas unwrapping dice game, use One gift in many layers: boxes inside boxes, wrapped in paper.
Keep small prizes and plastic wrap away from children under 3: the Consumer Product Safety Commission calls small parts and plastic film choking hazards.

Questions and answers

How do you play the plastic wrap ball game?

Sit in a circle. One player unwraps the ball while the player on their left rolls two dice. Prizes that fall out belong to the unwrapper. On doubles, the ball and the dice both move one place left. Whoever frees the center prize keeps it.

Is this the Christmas dice game with oven mitts?

Yes, with mitts added. On the Oven mitts sheet the unwrapper wears both mitts, and in its one-die version a six wins the ball and the next six takes it away. One gift in many layers plays the same way with a boxed gift.

How many layers does the ball need?

The build sheet plans one for every player and five to spare, so each guest has a turn and the game lasts more than one lap. A prize every layer or two keeps each turn worth having.

Can young children play?

Yes, on the gentle sheet: paper layers, no dice and no mitts. The ball goes around to music, and when it stops the child holding it takes off one layer and keeps the sticker sheet or soft toy under it.