The Oven Mitt Game: Christmas Fun for the Whole Family
December is a great time to break out the oven mitts and bake some Christmas cookies. But that’s not all those oven mitts are good for. They’re also perfect for cooking up some holiday fun.
I’m talking about the Oven Mitt Game, a goofy Christmas activity for the whole family. This festive challenge calls on players to unwrap a present before the next player at the table rolls doubles with a pair of dice. When the next player rolls doubles, the gift is passed and it’s their turn to have a whack at it (and someone else’s turn to roll the dice).
Of course, there’s a catch. Players attempting to open the present have to wear oven mitts. Also, the present is fiendishly wrapped in layers of paper, plastic wrap, duct tape, and who-knows-what-else.
Rules
The rules aren’t much more complicated than what I outlined above. Nevertheless, here they are in step-by-step form for easy reference.
Here’s what you will need:
- A pair of dice
- A pair of oven mitts
- A heavily wrapped present
- A table
Here’s how the game proceeds:
1. Players gather around a table with oven mitts, a wrapped present, and a pair of dice.
The present should be heavily wrapped, ensuring it goes around the table at least once.
2. Roll the dice to see who gets to go first.
The first player dons the oven mitts while the player to their left gets the dice.
3. On go, the player with the oven mitts attempts to open the present before the second player rolls doubles with the dice.
Players must use their mitted hands only to open the present – no teeth!
4. If the second player rolls doubles before the first player opens the present, everything shifts to the left (clockwise).
Now it’s the second player’s chance to open the present and the third player’s chance to roll the dice.
5. Repeat until someone succeeds in opening the present before the next person rolls doubles.
Whoever opens the present is the winner and gets to keep it!
Printable Rules
Here’s a PDF file of the rules to keep on hand. To download and print, simply click here or on the preview image below. Please note that this printable is for personal use only.
Ideas for Organizers
The beauty of the Oven Mitt Game is that it’s easy for everyone to understand the rules, and perfect for a group that includes kids. The downside is that it does require more from the organizer (i.e. you) than other gift exchange games. Here are a handful of tips that could make the job a little easier:
Make sure the gift isn’t too fragile
People will be handling the present roughly as they attempt to tear through layers of wrapping paper. Also, you can expect the gift to be dropped once or twice as people attempt to quickly hand it off. Obviously, something like a coffee mug or glass ornament probably isn’t going to survive this treatment.
Over-wrap the gift, but don’t go too far
You want the gift to go around the circle at least once, so make sure there are multiple layers of wrapping paper and lots of tape. However, you also don’t want the game to drag on forever. For funny wrapping ideas, see this article.
Plan for controversy
It may not be obvious when the present is actually “opened,” as the item could be fully visible while some of your devilishly devised gift wrapping is still stubbornly clinging to it. One way to head off disputes is to make the bottom layer the easiest to peel off. However, if there is a dispute, you or another neutral third party may need to act as referee.
As you can see, the Oven Mitt Game is a competitive-but-lighthearted activity that’s especially great for families and mixed-age groups. Good luck rolling those dice… and have a Merry Christmas!
