The Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project
A Great Way to Include All Trick-Or-Treaters This Halloween!
As a parent, one of the things I love most about Halloween is seeing all the cute kids in their costumes going door to door collecting candy. However, I know that not all children are able to enjoy this holiday due to food allergies. That's why I was so excited to learn about the Teal Pumpkin Project! I have been participating in it for years now (at first without even knowing about it!) and if you haven’t heard of it, now’s the time to jump in.
What is The Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project is a national campaign that raises awareness of food allergies and provides inclusive, safe options for trick-or-treaters with allergies. Started in 2012 by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET), the goal of the project is to create a safer, more inclusive Halloween for all children.
Why should I participate?
1 in 13 children in the United States has a food allergy, and for them, Halloween can be a scary time. The Teal Pumpkin Project provides a safe and fun way for them to participate in the holiday.
Inclusivity is important, especially during holidays when everyone should be able to join in the fun. By participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, you can help make sure that no child feels left out on Halloween night.
Plus, it's easy and fun! All you need is a teal pumpkin and some non-food treats, and you're good to go.
How to participate in The Teal Pumpkin Project
If you have non-food treats available, such as stickers, glow sticks, or small toys, you can put a teal pumpkin on your doorstep or in your window to let trick-or-treaters know that you have allergy-safe options available. You can also print out this sign from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website and post it with your teal pumpkin.
I think this is such a great idea! No child should have to miss out on the fun of Halloween just because of their food allergies. If you're looking for some non-food treat ideas, check out this list from FARE. This year I got this 200 piece fidget toy pack and this 130 piece mochi squishy toy pack from Amazon for my trick-or-treat bowl (affiliate links).
Other benefits of The Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project isn't just fun for kids with food allergies, non food treats are a hit with ALL trick-or-treaters. My kids love getting things like stickers, pencils, and small toys in their trick-or-treat bags. And as a parent, I love not having to worry about the sugar content of their candy!
Plus, the toys last longer than candy, so we don't have to worry about them eating it all in one night (or week)! And since the project is designed to be inclusive of all children, it's a great way to teach our kids about compassion and empathy.
Turning your neighborhood teal
The Teal Pumpkin Project also has a fun twist to the traditional "you've been boo'ed" game to turn all houses in your neighborhood teal. This is a great way to get everyone in your community involved in making Halloween fun and inclusive for all.
The kit includes everything you need to turn your neighborhood teal, including:
A flyer with information about the project
A list of non-food treat ideas
A cute "Teal Pumpkin Boo" poem to leave with your bag of treats on your neighbor’s porch
A "We’ve Been Teal Pumpkin Boo’ed" sign for the front door
You can find the kit by clicking here.
The Teal Pumpkin Project is a great way to include all trick-or-treaters in the Halloween fun! Be on the lookout for homes with teal pumpkins this year, and if you're handing out candy, consider adding some non-food treats as well (in a separate bowl to avoid cross contamination). Let's make this a safe and inclusive holiday for everyone!
Have you heard of The Teal Pumpkin Project? Will you be participating this year?