Halloween has become a popular event in many children’s calendars. They look forward to the decorations, dressing up and of course, the sweets! For children with food allergies though, it can be challenging as a lot of the treats on offer may not be safe for them. The Teal Pumpkin Project offers a way for everyone to make Halloween as inclusive as possible so no-one has to miss out on the fun.
Whether you are trick or treating, hosting a party, or running an event at school or nursery – it’s easy to get involved.
What does a teal pumpkin mean?
A teal pumpkin means you are allergy aware and are offering inclusive or non-food treats. You can choose to only offer these, or offer them alongside the the usual chocolate and sweets.
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?
The Teal Pumpkin Project was developed in America by the food allergy charity FARE to help raise awareness of food allergies at Halloween. It has grown and spread across the world as more families have embraced the idea. You can now spot teal pumpkins in most neighbourhoods. It is a fun and practical way to show your support.
Why is it important?
Up to 1 in 13 children have food allergies – that’s about 2 in every class. So this is a brilliant way to keep them safe and included. It teaches children how to be caring and empathetic for their friends and shows parents and schools how easy it can be to make small switches. Plus, non-food treats are actually healthier and longer lasting for every child!
How can I get involved in the Teal Pumpkin project?
To get involved, all you need to do is:
- Paint a teal pumpkin (we use a plastic one so we have it every year!) or simply print off a poster to display in your window or at your event.
- Gather some non-food treats together – spooky straws, toy creatures, pencils, temporary tatoos, bouncy balls, glow sticks, bubbles, rubber stamps
- Leave the non-food treats in a separate bowl to the sweets
You can buy some lovely, personalised teal buckets and signs from The Allergy Toolkit and buy pre-painted teal pumpkins on Ebay. Sainsbury’s also have some teal plastic bowls.
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