Why Kids Need a Teal Pumpkin This Halloween (and What You Can Do About It)
Food allergies have become more and more prevalent.
Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) says researchers estimate up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.9 million children under age 18. That’s one in 13 children or roughly two in every classroom. About 30 percent of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food.
According to Mayo Clinic, a food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating certain foods. Even the smallest food particle can trigger an allergic reaction, which could include digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. In severe cases, a food allergy can cause life-threatening symptoms or reactions called anaphylaxis. There is no cure for food allergies.
Imagine being a child this Halloween and having a food allergy or a food intolerance. There goes the dream of collecting a pillowcase full of candy.
Enter the “Teal Pumpkin Project.” The Teal Pumpkin is an food allergy advocate initiative to provide safe and fun non-food items for kids on Halloween. By placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep you let trick-or-treaters know you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys.
This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other medical or chronic conditions.
The Teal Pumpkin Project has grown in popularity. A few days ago I stopped by Target and found several cute teal pumpkins, as well as small toy options ready and available right nearby. A dollar store is also a great place to find affordable items.
If you need some ideas about what you provide, here are some great options:
- Glow sticks
- Skull shaped crayons
- Bubbles
- Stickers
- Rub-on tattoos
- Silly putty
- Glow rings
- Mini craft kits
- Squeeshies
- Glitter glue sticks
- Plastic spiders (spider rings)
- Stamps
- Fun, twisty straws
- Small containers of “Play-doh” (but keep in mind this brand contains wheat, so it is not an option for kids with wheat and gluten allergies).
- Water beads
- Small bottles of nail polish
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Silly string
- Finger lasers
- Keychains
Some people like to put together bags with several items inside them. Others have a wide assortment for kids to choose.
Having a teal pumpkin does not mean you don’t pass out candy. It simply means you have options for the kids who have health conditions or sensory issues that prevent them from digging in the candy bowl.
If you participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project this year, add your home to this map to let the kids with food allergies you have them covered!
Getty image by EvgeniiAnd
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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