Party games

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
I had a birthday party / teddybears picnic for my 5yr old and planned some party games, bear hunt (we hide a bear in the bushes and the first kid to find it wins a prize), musical bears (musical chairs,but you grab a bear rather than a chair, when the music stops, last child in wins a prize) and pass-the-parcel.

Kids were mostly Swiss, but there were also Germans (mostly swiss born), an Ukrainian and two US/Swiss half-breeds (english speaking). Once the rules had been translated for each game into high german and swiss german we began.

The disaster game was pass-the-parcel..... Aparently kids do not play that here. I was told the rules were too confusing and the game too difficult for 5yr olds...... Seriously?

I guess the difference is that M played her first pass-the-parcel at 3mos, and played it at every childrens birthday party since, at least until she moved here, but we've only been to three parties here so I didn't think anything of it.

We need to educate the Children of Europe about this important game....

I am a purist and do not put things in each layer..... What do you do?

What games Should I have played?

2
Honestly ........ didn't you see that coming? - every kid in Switzerland knows that there is no parcel delivery on Sundays.

Just as well you didn't play 'Pin on the donkey's tail'.

3
I've done pass the parcel at every birthday party my boys had until they were too old. The Swiss kids loved it once they got the hang of it. I only did the prize at the end too.

4
Pass the parcel is not difficult for a 5 year old

I used to get a game of statues going - (that kept them quiet for a while )