Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project?

It’s a movement that helps all kids feel included in Trick or Treating by offering non-food goodies instead of candy. The Teal Pumpkin Project originated with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), but couldn’t every child (and parent!) benefit from replacing some of their trick or treat candy, even if they don’t have a food allergy, intolerance, diabetes, or other health condition? Here’s how you can participate!

Spread the word early so people who are looking for Teal Pumpkin Project participants can find you. 

  • Put up a video on your Facebook stories or Instagram TV.
  • Text your friends. 
  • Have the kids make and pass out flyers in the neighborhood (or use one from the FARE website).
  • Put up a Teal Pumpkin Project garden sign.
  • Let the kids go crazy with teal sidewalk chalk about the Teal Pumpkin Project.
  • Paint your Jack-o-Lanterns teal this year.

 

Take a trip to the dollar store, Party City, or Amazon for non-food goodies. 

It doesn’t have to be expensive. Wouldn’t it be so cute for your kids to write encouraging quotes, funny jokes, or drawings on strips of paper, or to make Halloween-Themed Valentines? Use your creativity and your talents!

Here are some examples from FARE:

  • Glow Sticks
  • Necklaces
  • Halloween themed pencils and erasers
  • Bookmarks
  • Stickers
  • Rubber bands

 

You could also give away playdough, fidgets, washi tape, bubbles, or anything else you and your kids can think of! 

If your child has food allergies, have them carry a teal-colored bucket. The teal bucket signifies to other families that your child has food allergies. They’re available for purchase on Amazon or you can get creative and have your child decorate their own bucket. How fun would it be to tie dye and decorate a teal pillowcase for trick or treating?

Resources

Interested in more ways to make Halloween inclusive? Check these out!

 

See our past Halloween-Related posts:

 

See our Halloween Recipes: