The Grinch is a staple of the holiday season. Every year, families snuggle up with a blanket in their bare tootsies to watch the iconic Christmas movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and every year, the grinch’s heart grows three whole sizes. These How The Grinch Stole Christmas activities are so fun to do in families, classrooms, and youth groups!

This Dr. Seuss poem is one of the most enduring Christmas stories. First published in 1957, it is the story of the Grinch, who hates Christmas and tries to ruin it for everyone. When the Whos down in Whoville still celebrate the holiday even after the Grinch steals all of their presents, he learns the real meaning of Christmas and at the end of the story he joins the Whos for their holiday celebration.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Activities

What’s not to love? The Grinch is hilarious, heartwarming, and subtly educational (after all, the story does teach us the importance of giving). But what if this year, you took inspiration from the Grinch and added a little extra mischief to your holiday season? The Grinch is one of the most iconic Christmas characters of all time. He’s been around for generations, and his story is one that never gets old. If you’re looking for ways to get into the Grinch spirit this holiday season, there are plenty of Grinch activities you can do to get yourself in the mood. Here are a few of our favorites.

Have a Family Movie Night:

• No matter how many times you’ve seen it, watching the classic animated movie is always a great way to get into the Grinch spirit. You can’t help but root for the little guy as he sets out to ruin Christmas for everyone in Whoville. Besides, it’s impossible not to love those catchy songs like “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.” In addition to the classic 1966 animated TV special, there are two live-action movies: 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch, and 2018’s The Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch. Why not spend an afternoon or evening watching all three movies back-to-back? Make some popcorn and hot cocoa, get out your favorite holiday pajamas, and settle in for some festive fun.

Have a Whoville Party:

• One of the best things about the holidays is getting to dress up and have parties, and the Whos have a very distinctive look in the book illustrations So why not have a party inspired by everyone’s favorite green grump? Invite everyone to dress up as their favorite character, and get creative with your invitations by making them look like they’re coming from the Whos down in Who-ville. Decorate your home with lots of green and red streamers and balloons. And don’t forget the most important part — serving Who-pudding and roast beast! You can even make these Thing 1 and Thing 2 wigs!

Have a Family Reading Session:

• Curling up with a good book is one of the best ways to stay cozy during winter. If you want to add a festive twist, try gathering around the Christmas tree and reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas aloud as a group. This activity is perfect for small gatherings or family events and for kids of all ages. You can even take turns reading different parts of the book aloud for added fun.

Group Discussion:

• Try putting together some discussion questions to keep the conversation going after you have read the poem together as a group, or in small groups. Talk about what you would do if you woke up one morning to find that all of your holiday decorations had been stolen. Would you be able to forgive the culprit? Compare and contrast the Whos in Whoville and your own family. What character traits are the same and what is different? Make a list of all of the things that you are thankful for and brainstorm ideas for doing good deeds and a fun way to give back to those less fortunate this holiday season Have a discussion about what the true meaning of Christmas is.

Make Some Grinch Crafts:

• If you’re feeling crafty, there are tons of Grinch inspired crafts you can make. You can start by making your own Grinch hat or creating a Grinch themed wreath for your front door. Just be warned — these involve lots of green fur, so you may end up with more than a few green hairs and looking like the Grinch himself by the time you’re finished! For kids who like to draw, you can use this video tutorial to learn how to draw the Grinch’s face, and then color it in. If you’re making Christmas cards with your kids, this is a great idea to help them decorate the front of the card.

Make Grinch Ornaments:

• If you do not want to make something quite so messy or complicated as a fuzzy hat or a wreath, a Grinch ornament is a popular option! This is a fun activity to do with kids or as a couples’ project. All you need are some green puff balls, ribbons, googly eyes, and glue. Once you’ve made your ornaments, hang them on your tree or give them away as gifts. Or, since the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes at the end of the story, you can make Grinch heart ornaments, with just simple red hearts, or three sizes of hearts layered on top of each other. These fun crafts are a great idea for keeping your kids occupied during the Christmas holidays.

Grinch Slime:

• This craft might seem a little weird at first, but slime is all the rage right now and your kids will love some How the Grinch Stole Christmas slime. There’s an easy to follow recipe on Little Bins Little Hands for Grinch slime — all you need is glue, food coloring, and confetti! Your kids will have a blast making the slime with you, and then it will keep them occupied for the rest of the day.

Make Some Grinch Treats:

• Your kids will have so much fun eating some green Grinch themed snacks while they watch the movies or listen to you read the book aloud! Jennifer has a delicious and fun green Grinch pudding recipe on her blog that you can make with your littles. Or if you have a cookie cutter, you can make some green sugar cookies with your favorite cookie recipe and some food coloring (or just dye the frosting green and add some red sprinkles!).

This holiday season, take inspiration from the Grinch and add a little extra mischief to your celebrations! Whether you’re throwing a Whoville themed party or making Grinch ornaments, there are plenty of ways to add some extra fun (and green!) to your holidays. So get out there and enjoy everything this festive time of year has to offer!