We’ve been booed! What about you? One of my favorite fall traditions as a teacher is โbooingโ colleagues! Itโs a fun, friendly way to spread some spooky cheer around your school, especially as Halloween approaches. Since I’m out of the classroom this fall due to an extended maternity leave, I decided to take the tradition to my neighborhood! If youโve never heard of this fun activity, don’t worryโIโm going to walk you through it, step by step. By the end of this blog post, youโll be ready to โbooโ your own special people with ease. Iโve even got a freebie to help make it extra easy!
What Does it Mean to โBooโ Someone?
โBooingโ is a cute, simple act of anonymous kindness where you surprise a friend with a bag of treats and a little note. They enjoy the goodies, then โbooโ someone else to keep the fun going. It’s a great way to bring a sense of community to your school or street while having some not-too-spooky Halloween fun!
How to โBooโ Your Friends in 4 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Gather Your Goodies
The first step in booing someone is to create a small treat bag. You can fill it with any combination of candy, baked goods, small toys, or even homemade treats. Here are some ideas to make it extra special:
- A mix of wrapped Halloween candy (because whatโs Halloween without candy?!)
- Halloween-themed stickers or mini toys (great for neighbors with kids)
- A fall-scented candle or hot cocoa packet
- A festive note or Halloween joke for a personal touch
Be sure to keep it simple! This is all about spreading joy, not breaking the bank.
Step 2: Print the “We’ve Been Booed!” Prompt
The second part of the booing tradition is leaving a note to let your unsuspecting friend know exactly whatโs going on. Youโll also include instructions for how they can keep the kindness going by booing another clueless soul.
Iโve got you covered with a free ๐ป printable that says, โWe’ve Been Booed!โ along with instructions on how to keep the boos going (just scroll to the bottom of this post to download!). Print it out to include with your treat bag!
Step 3: Put It All Together
Once youโve gathered your treats and printed your note, it’s time to package everything up. You can place your items in a Halloween-themed gift bag, a cute basket, or even a mason jar tied with ribbon. If you want to get extra festive, add some decorative touches like cobwebs or fake spiders to the bag. Again, we’re not trying to spend a lot of money or effort; we’re just here for the boos!
Step 4: Drop It Off Secretly
The fun of booing is in the surprise! The trick is to leave the treats on your friend’s doorstep (or classroom desk) without them knowing it was you. Simply drop it off, ring the doorbell, and runโor sneak away quietly if youโre not the ding-dong-ditch type! Itโs part of the fun to stay anonymous, which, granted, is hard to accomplish with Ring doorbells and Nest cameras everywhere.
After youโve successfully booed your friend, the real excitement begins… well, for me, at least! As your people receive their mystery treats, theyโre encouraged to โbooโ another person within a couple of days. Once “booed,” folks should hang a sign indicating so. And just like that, the spooky fun spreads throughout your school or block!
Pro Tip: Keep the Booing Friendly for All!
If you have friends who might not celebrate Halloween or have dietary restrictions, you can modify the treats to fit their preferences, or simply opt out of booing them. Consider adding non-food items like Halloween-themed socks, coloring books, or scented candles instead of candy. It’s cool to be kind and faBOOlously inclusive!
๐ป Free โWe’ve Been Booed!โ Printable ๐ป
To make your booing adventure even easier, Iโve created a free โWe’ve Been Booed!โ printable for you! It includes a cute poem and instructions for your friend, so they know exactly what to do next. Just print it and tuck it in to your treat bag.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Booing friends and family is such a fun way to add a little extra joy to the spooky season. I canโt wait to hear all about your booing adventures! Let me know in the comments below if you have any creative booing ideas or if you’ve ever been “booed” before. Happy booing, friends! ๐๐ป
