With three kiddos between the ages of 5 and 11, I've learned that it's often the little traditions they remember most. We lived abroad for the majority of their lives, and creating family traditions helped make every place we lived feel like home. No matter what country we were in, these little moments gave us something familiar to look forward to together.
Augustween has become one of those traditions. It's the perfect excuse to sprinkle a little Halloween magic into the end of summer without waiting until October. Whether it's sneaking treats onto neighbors' porches or cozying up for a spooky movie night, these are the traditions my kids ask about every single year.
How do you start the "You've Been Booed!" tradition?
This one is easily our family's favorite... and if I'm being honest, I think the adults have just as much fun as the kids!
If you've never participated, here's how it works: bake a batch of cookies or package up a few Halloween treats and small goodies in a festive bag or basket. Include a "You've Been Booed!" printable with instructions encouraging the recipient to surprise another family.
Then comes the best part...
The kids quietly sneak the surprise onto a friend's porch, ring the doorbell, and run as fast as they can and hide. Watching from the car while they try not to laugh is half the fun.
What started as a simple activity became something much bigger. Even in the communities we lived in overseas, families kept the tradition going year after year. It was such a fun way to build community and spread a little joy.
Ideas to include:
- Homemade cookies or brownies
- Microwave popcorn
- Halloween candy
- Glow sticks
- Mini coloring books
- Stickers
- Bubbles
- Seasonal pencils
- A printable "You've Been Booed!" sign
Why not have an Augustween movie night?
One Friday nights, we usually have a movie night, so during August (and October) we try to find Halloween movies to watch.
Everyone changes into cozy pajamas, we pile every blanket we own into the living room, dim the lights, and make Halloween-themed snacks (or popcorn if we're lazy). It's simple, but somehow it always feels special.
Some movie ideas:
- Hotel Transylvania
- Hocus Pocus
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (yes...we watch it at Halloween and Christmas!)
To make it feel extra festive, let each child choose one special snack or drink to add to the menu. Pumpkin-shaped cookies, popcorn mixed with candy corn, caramel apples, or "witches' brew" punch!
How can you celebrate with a Halloween decorating day?
Instead of decorating all at once, we make decorating part of the celebration.
Just like Christmas, we turn on a Halloween playlist, light a fall-scented candle, and let each of the kids choose decorations to place around the house. They love deciding where the ghosts go, arranging pumpkins on the porch, or creating a spooky corner in the playroom.
Some years we even make a craft first—painted pumpkins, ghost garlands, or paper bats—and add those to our decorations too.
The goal isn't to create a Pinterest-perfect home. It's giving the kids ownership so that every time they see those decorations throughout the season, they remember making those memories together.
How can you make Augustween your own?
The best traditions don't have to be elaborate. In fact, the simplest ones are usually the ones our kids remember the longest.
Whether you're delivering a surprise "You've Been Booed!" bag, watching a favorite Halloween movie, or letting your kids help decorate the house, these little moments have a way of turning into lifelong memories.
Our family has carried these traditions across countries, homes, and seasons of life, and somehow they still feel just as magical today as they did the first time we tried them.
If you're looking for even more seasonal decorating ideas, DIY inspiration, and affordable home decor, be sure to explore the Decor Steals Journal and check out the latest daily steals for affordable, cozy fall decorating inspiration.
