TV special · Comedy, Animated · 1966 · TV-G

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: parents' guide

Name: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Released: 1966

4+our pick

Best for ages 4 and up. Rated TV-G.

A short, gentle animated special that makes a good first holiday classic for preschoolers and still charms older kids and adults. Boris Karloff narrates the Dr. Seuss rhyme about a grouchy hermit who steals every present, tree and scrap of food from the village below, then has a change of heart. There is no swearing, romance or drinking. The only concerns are the Grinch's sly grin and menacing voice, and the way he bosses his little dog around in slapstick bits. Very sensitive toddlers may want to sit close to a parent for the sneakiest scenes.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

Slapstick only. The Grinch's small dog is yanked around, slammed into snowdrifts, made to haul an overloaded sleigh and run over by it, all played for laughs with no injury shown.

Language

None

None. The narration and songs contain no swearing; the harshest words are the playful insults sung about the Grinch himself.

Sex and nudity

None

None. There is no romance, kissing or nudity of any kind in this short special.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

None

None. Nobody drinks, smokes or takes anything; a holiday feast of roast beast is as close as it gets.

Scary or intense scenes

Mild

Mild. The Grinch's wicked smile, scheming and deep villain's voice can unsettle the youngest viewers, and the loaded sleigh briefly teeters at a mountain edge. It passes quickly and ends happily.

Worth talking about

The Whos still sing after everything is taken. Ask what Christmas would still mean in your family if the presents and decorations disappeared.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 24th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, screenwiseapp.com, thetvdb.com. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.