It is easy to convert a basic White Elephant gift exchange into a unique party game. This activity involves very little planning, yet is still entertaining. Read White Elephant invitation and more party planning ideas in the article What is a White Elephant Gift Exchange Activity?
What is a White Elephant Party Game?
For a White Elephant event, each guest brings one ‘interesting’ previously owned or re-gifted present. Each person will also take home an equally unique recycled gift. The game requires one wrapped present per person (host included). The host should have a couple spare gifts on hand in case anyone forgets one.
Each guest wraps his or her White Elephant attractively, to cleverly conceal the true nature of the treasure inside. People often grapple over the most interestingly wrapped presents, so cute or pretty wrapping makes the game funnier. No tag is needed, as gifts are kept anonymous.
Party Trading Gift Ideas
White Elephant trades are most amusing when gifts are somewhat useful (not total junk), but a bit humorous.
Teens, especially, enjoy bringing goofy items to crack up friends. This is the time to ditch that silly orange hat or unloved Christmas sweater. For a tight group of tweens or teens, a present trading game gets especially hilarious.
Kids may prefer to bring something witty, but still fun to receive. Young children may not understand the joke concept, so lightly used, but fairly nice gifts, might work best.
How to Play a White Elephant Gift Exchange Game with Dice
To play with dice, guests sit in a circle and pass a tray and a pair of dice. The first player rolls the dice. If that person rolls doubles, he or she chooses any gift but their own from the pile. This continues around (and around) the circle of guests until everyone has rolled doubles and has one gift. For a simple version, guests can then open their gifts one by one in the opposite direction.
Playing a White Elephant Game with Stealing
As an extra element, ‘stealing’ may be added to the game.
In this version:
- If player #1 rolls doubles, he or she picks a gift from the pile.
- If player #1 does not roll doubles, the tray is passed to player #2.
- If player #2 is lucky enough roll doubles, player #2 can either chose a gift from the pile or (if #1 got a gift) nabbing the present from player #1.
- The game continues with player #3 being able to choose a new gift or grab the first or second player’s item, and so on.
- The tray and dice continue around the circle until everyone has a gift.
Variation ideas:
- In some versions of the dice game, players open a gift after they get it, so players can see what they are stealing. A popular item at one such party was a giant chocolate kiss.
- Gifts may also stay wrapped throughout the game. This version is funny because players often spend time stealing a nice-looking gift back and forth, only to find out at the end that it is a real dud.
Brainstorming Ideas for Gift Exchanges
Party planners can find more ideas for present trading party games by talking with friends, making up new rules, or searching White Elephant or Yankee Swap online. In any case, a used gift exchange is always fun, cheap, easy, and a big party hit.
- Other articles of possible interest may be: Fun Teen Birthday Party Ideas & Awesome Themes and Cheap Last Minute Party Ideas for Kids & Teens
- For more party ideas and themes, see the websites Birthday Party Themes and Ideas and Teen Birthday Party Ideas and Themes.
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
