Left-Right Story Gift Exchange
In the left-right game, everyone holds a wrapped gift while someone reads a story out loud. Every time the reader says LEFT, everyone passes their gift to the left; every time they say RIGHT, everyone passes right. When the story ends, you keep the gift in your hands.
On this page
How it works
- Everyone holds one wrapped gift and sits in a circle.
- One person reads a story packed with the words LEFT and RIGHT. Some stories also use ACROSS (trade with the person opposite).
- On every direction word, everyone passes their gift one seat that way.
- When the story ends, keep what you hold. Then everyone unwraps together.
The game takes 5–10 minutes and works for any number of people.
Free stories to read aloud
We wrote three original stories for this site. Each has at least 15 passes:
- The Family Road Trip to Grandma’s (family, about 3 minutes)
- The Office Holiday Party (work, about 3 minutes)
- Santa’s Busy Night (everyone, about 4 minutes)
Open them in the left-right story tool. It can read along at your chosen speed, highlights every direction word, and flashes PASS LEFT or PASS RIGHT so nobody misses one. You’re welcome to read them at any party.
Reading tips
- Slow down on direction words. Give people a second to pass before you carry on.
- Emphasise LEFT and RIGHT so they stand out from the rest of the sentence.
- Watch for sneaky words. Our stories use phrases like “turned RIGHT around” and “what’s LEFT” on purpose. Every LEFT and RIGHT counts, whatever it means in the sentence.
- Use the tool on a big screen if the room is noisy.
Write your own
Want a story about your office or family? Write 200–400 words with 15–25 direction words spread evenly. Use plenty of inside jokes and end with a line like “whatever you’re holding is yours to keep.” Read it once beforehand to check the passes feel balanced.
Mixing it with White Elephant
Some groups play the left-right story first to hand out gifts, then play a short round of classic White Elephant where people can steal. For gift ideas that suit all ages, see the family list. Remote family? The virtual game works on any video call.
Frequently asked questions
Does the left-right game involve stealing?
No. Everyone passes at the same time, so nobody takes anything from anyone. That makes it a good choice for kids and for groups that dislike stealing.
What if someone ends up with their own gift?
It can happen. Most groups let that person swap with a neighbour. Or just laugh about it.
Where can I find left-right stories?
We wrote three original stories you can read for free. The read-along tool shows each one and highlights every LEFT and RIGHT.
Do I open the gifts during the story?
No. Keep them wrapped until the story ends, then everyone opens at once.