For kids with food allergies, Halloween can be a mixed bag. Picking a costume, carving a pumpkin, and hanging out with friends are still lots of fun, but the act of trick-or-treating can become fraught.
Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project!
Placing a teal-colored pumpkin on your doorstep signals that you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick-or-treaters!
Here are our favorite suggestions on what alternative treats to offer trick-or-treaters this Halloween:
Glowsticks:
Kids love the glow and parents love the added after-dark safety.
Pokémon Cards:
Although potentially pricier than other options, Pokémon trading cards can make a special treat for one lucky kid or you can open a pack and distribute card-by-card to groups of junior Pokémon trainers! There are 10 cards in a standard pack, but many stores carry multipack options that generally provide a better per-card value.
Bouncy balls:
Embrace the classics with a five-pack of Mega Bouncers! Those of us with hard floors and heads full of bad ideas remember the criminally satisfying sound these kinds of balls make as they rebound from floor to ceiling and back again.
Sticker Sheets:
Easy, inexpensive with lots of options.
Trading cards and gotcha packs:
Most Bartell’s carry a selection of sports cards, trading cards and ‘blind bag’ collectibles. Ask a team member to see what’s in stock!
And don’t forget to pick up your teal pumpkin from Bartell’s! Set that pumpkin on your front steps to let people know that you support kids with food allergies!
For more information, visit tealpumpkinproject.org!