Overview
Hi-ho! Cherry-o is a fun counting game for young children from age 3 to 6. The challenge is to be the first player to put ten cherries into your bucket by picking cherries from your cherry tree. Read on for more on how the game is set up and played.
Objective
Be the first player to place ten cherries into your bucket by picking cherries from your cherry tree.
Hi-ho! Cherry O Rules
The youngest player starts the game.
Players take turns in a clockwise direction.
The first player to get ten cherries in their bucket has to shout “Hi-ho! Cherry-O”.
Number of Players Needed
2 to 4 players can play the game at a time.
Equipment
A plastic game board with 4 trees and buckets
40 plastic cherries
Fully assembled spinner
Setting Up
Each player selects a tree and places ten cherries on it. Each tree has a bucket that matches its colour.
How to Play Hi-ho! Cherry O
The players take turns to spin the spinner, starting with the youngest player. Play continues to the left as other players take their turns. After a player spins the spinner, the spinner will land on a spot and the player must do act out whatever is written on that spot.
The spinner will land on one of the following:
One Cherry
The player picks one cherry from their tree and places it in their bucket.
Two Cherries
The player picks two cherries from their tree and places them in their bucket.
Three Cherries
The player picks three cherries from their tree and places them in their bucket.
Four Cherries
The player picks four cherries from their tree and places them in their bucket.
Bird or Dog
The player takes two cherries from their bucket and places them back on their tree. If there is only one cherry in the player’s bucket, the player will take that cherry and put it back on their tree. If there is no cherry in the player’s bucket, then the player will not do anything.
Spilt Bucket
The player will take all the cherries in their bucket and return them to the tree. This means the player is starting all over.
Winning the Game
The first player to get ten cherries into their bucket from their tree wins the game. The player has to call out “Hi-ho! Cherry-O”. This notifies the other players that a winner has emerged and the game is over.