Musical Hot Potato Passing Game

A soft ball, beanbag, or stuffed animal — the "hot potato"

Phone or speaker for playing music

Sit in a circle with family or friends. Hand someone the "hot potato" — any soft, easy-to-pass object.

Start the music and begin passing the hot potato around the circle. Pass quickly — it's hot!

Stop the music at a random, unexpected moment.

Whoever is holding the hot potato doesn't get "out" — instead, they have to perform. A silly dance, a funny face, an animal impression, or a song.

Everyone cheers wildly for the performer. Make them feel like a star.

Start the music again and pass in the opposite direction for variety.

Play 8-10 rounds, making the stops increasingly unpredictable — sometimes quick, sometimes after a long stretch.

The no-elimination version is critical for this age group. Getting "out" leads to tears and disengagement. Performing leads to laughter and confidence.

Have a list of performance ideas ready: sing a nursery rhyme, jump like a frog, spin in a circle, make the silliest face you can.

Vary what the "caught" person does each round. "This time, the person holding the potato tells us their favorite animal!"

Older kids in the group can be the music controller, which gives them a leadership role.

This is a party game staple for good reason. It works every time, with any group, and requires almost no setup.