Easy to make! DIY ideas for Whack-a-Gator
Do you know the arcade game “Whac-A-Croc”? It’s a simple game where you whack crocodiles that pop up at random, and it’s especially popular with children because it’s easy to play.
Many people who played it as kids still take on the challenge today, aiming for high scores as adults.
In this article, we’ll share DIY ideas for making your own Whac-A-Croc! They’re perfect for kids’ events, festivals, or at-home play.
With milk cartons, plastic bottles, and cardboard, you’ll find it surprisingly easy to make—so give it a try and have fun!
Easy to make! DIY ideas for Whack-a-Gator
Make it with milk cartons and plastic bottles! Whac-A-Croc
This is the classic way to make a Whack-a-Croc game.
For the crocodiles, stuff newspaper into a milk carton and insert a plastic bottle as a handle.
Cover the outside with green construction paper, and draw the eyes and mouth with a pen or make them from paper.
For the main unit, use cardboard and flyers.
Fold all the bottom flaps of the cardboard box inward and tape them shut; on the opposite side, fold only one large rectangular flap inward.
Don’t fold it all the way in—fix it at the position where the lid would close.
Then make a curtain from flyers and attach it to the back side of the folded, fixed section, and you’re done.
It’s simple, but you can enjoy a surprisingly authentic Whack-a-Croc!
Looks just like the real thing! Whac-A-Gator
Here’s an idea for anyone who wants to make the same Whac-A-Croc game you find at arcades! It’s a mini-sized version, but it even replicates rank and bonus displays, making it look just like the real thing.
You’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment when you finish.
The basics can be made out of cardboard, so give it a try.
For coloring, use colored tape instead of construction paper—the gloss makes it look more authentic.
Since it’s manual, split roles into the person who makes the crocs pop out and the person who whacks them, and have fun!
Whac-A-Croc with sound
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVAMWoAJa3M/Here’s an idea for a sound-making crocodile using a shoe rack and a call bell.
Imagine the shoe rack as the crocodile’s mouth, fix the call bell between the jaws, and when you hit it, the bell is pressed and makes a sound.
Both the shoe rack and the bell can be bought at a 100-yen shop, so the cost is low.
However, since shoe racks are often made of plastic, you’ll likely need to paint it to give it a crocodile-like appearance.
That said, the fact that it makes a sound when struck is easy for both children and the elderly to understand, making it an idea worth copying.
Make it with a milk carton and a tension rod! Whac-A-Gator
Here’s an idea for making a Whac-A-Croc-style game using milk cartons and a tension rod.
The idea is to cover milk cartons with origami paper or construction paper to make them look like crocodiles, which makes it easy to add your own originality.
Just by changing the color of the origami paper, you can easily create a one-of-a-kind crocodile.
It’s fun to try color schemes you won’t find in the original, like pink or yellow crocodiles.
Also, since you use a tension rod, you can adjust the length.
Easy to whack! Whac-A-Croc
Another important factor is how to make it easy for kids to hit.
So I’d like to introduce an idea for a Whac-A-Gator game that’s all about ease of whacking.
First, prepare a desk that’s the size children usually use.
This makes it easier for them to spot the gator from their eye level.
Then, stand a cardboard box with the bottom removed on the desk.
From inside the box, move a handmade gator in and out, and have the kids hit it when it pops out.
At this time, it’s also important to move the gator at a speed that makes it easy to hit.
Halloween version of Whac-A-Croc
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVnHVyNpf2y/Speaking of Whac-A-Mole, as the name suggests, it’s a game where you hit crocodiles that pop out—but this is the Halloween version.
Instead of crocodiles, ghosts like mummies and Frankenstein appear.
If you make the main unit in Halloween-ish orange, purple, and black, it will really capture that eerie vibe.
You’ll also want to make the curtain that hides where the ghosts are lurking in black to represent the darkness of night.
How about trying this for a Halloween party at a childcare facility or community event?
Make it with cardboard! Whac-A-Croc
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZEXfvuJUp0/How about making a Whack-a-Croc game using only cardboard? People often make the crocodiles out of milk cartons, but sometimes you don’t have any empty cartons on hand.
In that case, cut out some cardboard, roll it up tightly to form the crocodiles, and give it a try.
Just note that if you don’t roll it enough times, it will get crushed when hit, so either roll more layers or use a lightweight hammer.
If you want the crocodiles to be green, you can glue on green construction paper or color the cardboard directly with markers.
The base unit where the crocodiles pop out can be made with a single sheet of cardboard and some raffia (Suzuran) tape.