No.207
Daruma Block Knock-Out
Japanese name: だるま落とし
Materials
- A daruma otoshi set
- An enclosure to catch blocks knocked out of the stack
How to play
- Stack the blocks beneath the daruma figure on a level surface. Put a barrier on the side where blocks will fly and make sure nobody is there.
- Hold the mallet with a short grip and tap the side of the lowest block. Move straight sideways to knock it out, not downward from above.
- Removing the bottom block without toppling the daruma is a success. Continue with the new lowest block.
- If the stack topples, end that attempt. Put the mallet down, gather the blocks, and rebuild. Record the number of blocks removed.
- Allow about three attempts per person before changing turns. If all blocks are removed, check that the daruma remains standing to complete the attempt.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: two blocks in a soft commercial set. Primary school children: add more blocks.