Play the Left/Right Gift Exchange game at your next party

If you’re looking for a game that toddlers and grandmas can play at the same time, you’ve come to the right place. The Left/Right Gift Exchange Game is perfect for any family or friend gathering and everyone loves it. Plus, set up is a cinch. Check it out!

*My niece and her husband holding their gifts for the game*

We recently returned from our annual family reunion in Yellowstone. My sister and I were in charge of a game that everyone in the whole family could play together. After a little brain storming, we decided to play the Left/Right Gift Exchange Game. It’s easy and fun for everyone. Here’s how to play.

Print your Left/Right story

The story is the most important part! You can write your own or you can asked AI to write one for you. I asked AI to write a short Left/Right story that I could read for a gift exchange game and I had a cute story in no time flat. I changed a few words in the story, but it was so quick and easy. We did two stories. One for everyone in the group and then a second one for just the kids.

*Two stories for the gift exchange game*

Wrap your presents

We wanted to make sure that everyone got a present, so we wrapped enough presents for the entire group. I think we had 27 people. You could also only have a handful of presents and only a few people win one at the end of the game. Then you could just give a candy to the other participants. However you want to do it.

There’s all kinds of things you could buy as the gifts for this game. Here’s just a few ideas:

Once you have all of your gifts wrapped, you’re ready to play the game!

*All the wrapped gifts ready for the game*

How to play the Left/Right Gift Exchange Game

Organize all the players into a big circle. Give each player a wrapped gift and instruct them not to open it. Then, explain that you are going to read a left/right story. Whenever you say the word “left”, they are supposed to pass their gift to the person to their left. And when you say the word “right” they are supposed to pass their gift to the person on the right. Once you finish the story, whatever present each player has in their hands is the one they get to open and keep.

*Form a big circle at the beginning of the game*

Make sure that when you read the story, you emphasize the words “left” and “right” and pause to give them time to pass their gifts back and forth. You can also tell the players that if they don’t like the gift that they got, they can trade it with someone. Everyone ended up trading a lot of their gifts and everyone was happy at the end.

*Everyone opening their gifts at the end of the game*

This ended up being a really fun game and everyone loved it. I mean, who doesn’t like getting a gift? This Left/Right Gift Exchange Game is perfect for any birthday party, family reunion, classroom party or just for fun! Let me know how it goes in the comments below.

More from My Silly Squirts: How to make a birthday candy bar poster for your family