Paper Bag Pick Up

This fun challenge game creates an entertaining test of balance and flexibility through a progressively difficult elimination format. Paper Bag Pick Up takes a simple paper bag and turns it into a hilarious competition that generates laughter and friendly rivalry. Ideal for youth groups, physical education classes, or team-building events, this zany group game requires minimal equipment yet provides maximum entertainment. The elimination rounds build suspense while encouraging participants to push their limits, making it perfect for energising groups and creating memorable moments of shared achievement and good-natured competition.

Paper Bag Pick Up – Fun Challenge Game

1. Place an empty paper bag, standing upright and stiff, in front of your group.
2. Challenge one person at a time to attempt to lift the paper bag off the floor using their mouth only, with their feet only ever touching the ground.
3. Invite a small group of no more than 10 volunteers to start the first round of attempts.
4. To stay in the game, a participant must be standing fully upright with the bag in their teeth or between their lips.
5. An attempt is deemed unsuccessful if at any point a participant falls forward or uses their hands (or any other part of their anatomy) to brace themselves.
6. If a person does not successfully lift the bag after three consecutive attempts (at the same height) they are eliminated.
7. Once every person in the group has made an attempt, invite one of them to tear a portion off the top of the paper bag walls, ie to make it shorter for the next round.
8. When ready, commence the second round of attempts with the remaining successful participants.
9. Continue with successive rounds, gradually reducing the height of the paper bag walls and eliminating more participants.
10. Acknowledge the last person standing as the winner.