Fun Activities for Roald Dahl’s BFG Book

Have you read Roald Dahl’s The BFG book or seen the new movie from Disney? My 11-year-old daughter and I saw the BFG movie (short for Big Friendly Giant) a few weeks ago, and it was so fun to get wrapped up in Dahl’s vivid, fantasy Giant World. To be honest, my daughter enjoyed the movie far more than I did, but I didn’t mind — it was certainly a memorable and fun mommy-daughter date.

Roald Dahl's BFG Whizzpopper tag via @PagingSupermom

“Us giants is making whizzpoppers all the time! Whizzpopping is a sign of happiness. It is music in our ears! You surely is not telling me that a little whizzpopping if forbidden among human beans?”

Disney's The BFG Movie

One of our favorite parts of the story and the movie is the funny Gobblefunk language that Roald Dahl created for Giant. It’s close enough to English that you’ll understand what he means, but it’s just different enough to be hilarious. These fun, made up words are a hallmark of Roald Dahl books. When reading the book these words are so fun to say, and hearing Mark Rylance bring the words to life in the movie was delightful.

There are several funny parts involving “whizzpoppers,” which is the BFG’s word for passing gas through the southern hemisphere. Humorously in Giant land a whizzpopper is not only acceptable, but it is even “a sign of happiness.” The giant says, “it is music in our ears! You surely is not telling me that a little whizzpopping if forbidden among human beans?”

Roald Dahl's BFG Whizzpopper tag via @PagingSupermom
Roald Dahl's BFG Whizzpopper tag via @PagingSupermom

After the movie my daguther helped me brainstorm some fun BFG activities. We thought it would be great to create our own whizzpopping fun at home. We made homemade slime and put it in a jar. When you quickly insert your fingers into the slime you can create fantastic whizzpopping noises. Find below our slime recipe and link to download the free printable “Whizzpopper” tag.

Disney's The BFG Movie
Disney's The BFG Movie

The BFG movie is directed by Steven Spielberg, and he certainly worked his wizardry in bringing Dahl’s fantastical story to life. In the beginning of the movie, we first see the nighttime streets in London, and you can already feel the magic. Sophie is the only child awake in her orphanage, and is narrating all about the things she typically sees and does at night. I love the way they show her playing with dolls in a big doll house, foreshadowing the way the Giant would reach into the orphanage window and scoop up Sophie.

Disney's BFG Movie - Steven Spielberg
Disney's The BFG Movie
Disney's The BFG Movie

Of course if there is a friendly giant there must also be some fearful ones, and as it turns out the BFG is the smallest of the giants we meet, and unfortunately the only one who doesn’t eat humans. Some of the scenes with the other giants can be pretty intense, so you’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding if you should take littler children. It’s hard to give an exact age requirement because of varying kids temperaments, but if your little ones can handle the intense parts of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent, or Beauty & the Beast, they will likely be fine with The BFG. For a detailed movie review from a parent’s perspective, we always check out Parent Previews.

As Sophie and the BFG work together to fight the man-eating giants, the Queen gets involved and the scenes at Buckingham palace provide lots of laughs. Your kiddos might enjoy creating these DIY palace soldiers after seeing the movie.

Disney's BFG Movie - Queen of England
Palace Royal Guard Soldiers

For more BFG fun, download our free packet of printable activities and games from Disney, plus my Whizzpopper jar tags.

Free Printable BFG Packet via @PagingSupermom
Roald Dahl's BFG Whizzpopper tag via @PagingSupermom

Green “Whizzpopping” Slime Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
Bottle of school glue (4 oz.)
Warm water
10 drops of neon green food coloring (or 1 tablespoon of craft paint)
2/3 cup liquid starch (I used the Sta-Flo brand found with ironing supplies)

TO MAKE: Empty a four-ounce bottle of school glue into a bowl. Fill the empty glue bottle with warm water, shake and pour out into the bowl. Color the slime by mixing in food coloring or paint. Blend well — I like to use a whisk for this part. Finally add the liquid starch and stir with a spoon until it thickens. Keep slime in a glass or plastic jar that has an opening large enough to fit your hand into. As you quickly squish the slime into the confined space, the air pockets will escape making those fun whizzpoppers!

Roald Dahl's BFG Whizzpopper tag via @PagingSupermom

:: Download the free printable BFG activities packet

Bettijo Bridges

Administrator at Paging Supermom
Bettijo is the founder and designer of Paging Supermom where she shares creative ideas for family fun. Known for practical and kid-friendly activities, free printables and holiday entertainment. Bettijo was a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and has frequently appeared on local TV. Her work has also been featured in national magazines including Real Simple, O, Redbook, Parents, Family Circle, and Health. She enjoys art, retro-modern design, photography and making new things. Mom of 4 kids.

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