The game of “Gossip” is not only a fun parlor game for children, but it is a good sociological demonstration of what happens to information when it is passed by word of mouth.

Very simply, the players are lined up in a row or a circle. The first person is given a sentence or perhaps several sentences written on a piece of paper. He or she commits the information to memory and then sets the paper aside. He “whispers” the information, as well as he can remember it to the next person in line. This person does the same, passing the information down the line until it reaches the end. The last person reveals what he has been told to all assembled. The first person then reads the paper.

There are typically no prizes or winners associated with this game, but the results are often quite hilarious. It is recommended for more than six players and generally requires children of school age with minimal communication skills.