Christmas
Guess the Gift
Also called What's in the Box?, Shake the Present
Players shake, weigh and squeeze wrapped presents and write down what they think is inside; closest guesses win.
- people
- 6–60
- time
- 15 min
- energy
- Calm
- materials
- Needs prep
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Before you start
Wrap each object so the shape does not give it away, number the gifts and line them up on a table. Hand out answer sheets with the numbers already printed.
- 1Players or teams walk the table and may shake, lift and squeeze each gift, but not tear or peek.
- 2Each guess is written next to the gift's number.
- 3When time is up, the host unwraps the gifts one by one and reads out the answer.
- 4One point per correct guess. The top scorer can take one of the gifts home.
What to say3
- 1“Shake it, weigh it, squeeze it — but no peeking!”
- 2“Gift number four… is it a mug? Is it a candle? Let's find out!”
- 3“It was a pack of instant noodles! Who got that one?”
Host tips3
- Disguise the shape. Wrap a mug inside a shoebox with crumpled paper, or tape two objects together. If everyone gets everything right the reveal falls flat.
- Include one or two objects that rattle or make a sound — those produce the best arguments at the table.
- With a big crowd, the table jams. Run it in teams of 4–6 so only one person per team handles each gift.
Variants2
Pass around
For a seated crowd, pass each gift around the room for 20 seconds instead of walking to a table.
Mystery stocking
Put objects inside a Christmas stocking; players feel through the fabric only.
Safety1
- Nothing sharp, breakable or edible with common allergens inside the wrapping — players will shake hard.
Good for
Occasions
ChristmasBirthdayReunionSchool
Venues
Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hall