The Tale of Despereaux Activities

This season the very popular book The Tale of Despereaux makes its debut in movie theaters.  Long awaited by fans, this is going to be a magical film where this little heroe’s adventure comes to life.  This will make a wonderful movie outing for the entire family this year…sticking movie passes into stockings will make a great gift and great memories. 

Looking to enjoy some creative fun activities to get your children in the mood for this fun film or to enjoy it long after, here are a few ideas:

1. Despereaux is born with huge ears.  Have the kids make their own large ears to wear around as they take on Despereaux’s heroic disposition.

2. Dark times come over the kingdom when the Queen dies after a rat falls into her soup!  Do your kids love soup?  Make some homemade soup and enjoy together.

3. Eat your outlawed soup with honey, a favorite of Despereaux, on toast.

4. Despereaux loves to listen to music and read (instead of eat!) fairy tales.  Have the kids read their own favorite fairy tales and dance to favorite music.  The children can reenact these tales of chivalry and bravery with each other.

5.  Despereaux is a hero (and a bit different too!).  Put together a few heroic challenges for your kids to challenge themselves.  For example:

• Have the kids find and capture the cheese.  Despereaux grabs it out of the trap…have your kids go on a search for hidden cheese around your home.  Make it difficult for the kids to find, but don’t let them give it up.
• Make mock swords with cardboard paper and tin foil, and let the kids fence with one another.
• It’s a spool of thread that leads Despereaux back to the Princess and ultimately to save her.  Using old spools of thread, let the kids create their own path around your home to lead them to a special prize, a small chocolate, etc. 

The Tale of Despereaux is wonderful, heartwarming, and teaches a good lesson in being OK with being a bit different.  Have fun with this great book and film!