Halloween is the ultimate holiday for kids! It’s the one day of the year that they’re told to dress up and transform into a character they love – while running yard to yard – at a time way past their bedtimes – all the while in pursuit of candy. It really doesn’t get much better than that in the eyes of a child. Halloween is also one of the most neighborhood-friendly holidays. What other night of the year do you see families scattered around the block, chatting and laughing? Why not capitalize on the spirit of Halloween and organize a neighborhood-wide Boo. The only requirement is putting together an inexpensive package of Halloween goodies – fall festive crafts, home-made ghost cookies, spooky books, or pumpkin stickers– and leaving it on a doorstep of a neighbor. It’s a fun way to refocus kids on treat-giving instead of treat-getting and is guaranteed to reenergize the sense of community among your neighbors – even long after the candy is gone.

Here are a few simple steps to get your neighborhood Boo’ing by Halloween.

1. How to Boo? Create a fun, Halloween-themed basket or bucket of goodies – and quietly leave it on the doorstep of a neighbor.In an effort to keep it all a mystery, ring the bell and run away before the door is opened. Kids will enjoy this parent-approved version of ding, dong, ditch. Also, be sure to include a picture of a ghost anda note explaining that they've been Boo'ed. Outline that they should hang the picture of the ghost in a front window as a marker that they've already been Boo'ed – and remind them to pass a Boo along to another neighbor.

2. Who to Boo? Anyone! Scour the neighborhood for a family who you think would like to be a part of a game of Boo.Don't feel you have to stick with close friends or even just families with kids. Who wouldn't enjoy finding a special, unexpected treat on their doorstep?!

3. When to Boo? There are two options for this. You can either have random Boo’ing througout October. The picture of the ghost hanging in a window will let you know if a family has already received a treat. Or you can have a more organized approach and compile a list of participating families – and then have the families work down the list by Boo’ing the family after them – either way the kids will be ghostly surpised.