Play Acornball

By Nikki Brooks

Jun 28, 2023

30 min activity

When Donkey Hodie and Purple Panda have to wait for Gameshow Gator's new game, they invent their own game to pass the time — Acornball! To play with your child, select a simple household item like a bucket, basket, or box and a small ball that children will try to throw into the container. Children can make up new rules for the game just like Donkey and Panda.

Materials

A bucket (can also be a basket, box or large plastic bowl)
A small lightweight ball (ping pong ball or wiffle ball)
3 or more players

Directions

Set up the game by placing a bucket a few feet away from where players will stand to toss the ball. Adjust the distance based on the players’ ages and skill levels.

Before the first toss, let the players decide the rules for the game. For example, the Someplace Else pals do a silly dance and yodel when they make a basket. They also sniff a stinky cheese rock if they miss it! Ask the players what they want to do when they make or miss a shot.

Let players take turns trying to throw the ball into the bucket. If they make a basket or miss, remind them to do the silly action they agreed on as part of the game’s rules. For more fun, add more rules as the game continues.

Continue playing until everyone gets a turn.

We hope you had fun together! Snap a photo of you and your child doing the activity and share it with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. We’d love to see how it turned out!

Want more “Donkey Hodie” activities? Make a puppet pal and play Donkey Hodie Says to continue the fun!