Party GamesMusical Hats
Players stand or sit in a circle, each wearing a hat except one. While the music plays, everyone takes the hat from the head of the neighbour on the right and puts it on their own. When the music stops, whoever has no hat is out. It has all the suspense of musical chairs with no pushing, no running and no furniture, so elders and toddlers can play together.
- Ages
- 5 and up
- Players
- 6 to 30
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Place
- circle, seated or standing
- Energy
- active
- Group size
- Medium group (9 to 20), Large group (over 20)
- Good for
- Children, Teenagers, Adults, Elders, All ages together, Office
What you need
Hats, caps, paper crowns or folded newspaper hats: one fewer than the number of players. Music.
How to play
- Players form a circle, close together, all facing inwards. Give out the hats; one player starts bare-headed.
- Start the music. In time with it, each player reaches to the right, lifts the neighbour's hat and puts it on their own head. A player may touch only the hat on the neighbour's head.
- Hats travel round the circle.
- Stop the music without warning. The player with no hat is out and takes one hat away.
- Close the circle and start again.
Who wins
The last player wearing a hat wins.
Variations and tips
- Make the hats first: ten minutes of newspaper-hat folding and decorating is a good craft break for children.
- Reverse on a clap: the direction changes whenever the host claps.
- Team version: two circles race for the most rounds without dropping a hat.
- Use dupattas or garlands in place of hats.
Safety and kindness
Hats that fit loosely work best. For hygiene, paper hats made on the day are better than shared caps. The person working the music should face away so that stopping is fair.
Common problems and how to fix them
- Players hold on to a hat. A hand on your own hat puts you out.
- The circle is too spread out. Sit on chairs with shoulders touching.
Party plans that use this game
Host tools
Time the round with the party timer, make chits or random teams with the chit maker, and keep the points on the scoreboard.
Similar games
- Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi 15 to 20 min
- Chidiya Ud 5 to 10 min
- Poshampa 10 to 15 min
- Kokla Chhapaki 10 to 15 min
- Dog and the Bone 15 min
- Fire in the Mountain 10 min
See all 29 party games.