Sure we all remember playing “Ding-Dong-Ditch” when we were kids, where we’d ring a doorbell and then run, thinking it was funny to have someone get up, open the door, and find no one there. Well here’s a version that will bring smiles instead of frowns.

Plan a night to do this together, and talk ahead of time about some fun gifts that are inexpensive but would be fun to find on your doorstep. Consider these:

• a few small toys or books in a bag for a family with young children

• microwave popcorn and a few cans of soft drink

• flowers

• a box of cookies

Gather the items and put them into bags or small boxes, and then choose friends who you’ll deliver them to -- anonymously! You might want to write notes of encouragement to tape to these so the person knows it’s a gift from a friend instead of something accidentally left by a stranger. Then head out to leave these on doorsteps. Ring the bell -- and run!