Tonight, as children come round our neighbourhood for a bit of trick or treating, they will be greeted by the usual jack-o-lanterns, but we will also have teal pumpkins by the front door.
“Why?” I hear you ask.
As I was reading an article by Penny on The ID Band Company’s website, I found out about The Teal Pumpkin Project.
How to get involved in the project?
You just have to get a pumpkin, carve it if you want and paint it teal, then place it alongside your orange pumpkins in the window or outside your front door.
Just make sure you have two separate bowls for treats, one containing non-food treats. Tonight, we have spooky straws, mini bottles of bubbles and mini notebooks. It makes it safer for children with allergies, and their parents will not have to confiscate treats that would not be safe for their children.
It is all about making Halloween inclusive and safe for children with food allergies. I am so grateful to Penny for raising awareness for this project. My friend Emma, with whom I co-host #FreeFromFridays, also wrote about it here if you fancy a read.
We always have non-food treats for children on exclusion diets, but the teal pumpkin is a game-changer. It actually spells it out: if you have allergies or intolerances (or do not eat sweets). there will be something for you in this house. This is inclusion at its finest!
To most people, it will mean nothing, but to those will allergies, it is a signal they can have treats they can keep…
On Friday, we picked our pumpkins at Willows Farm and carved them there. All we had to do when we got home was choose one of the pumpkins to be the teal one.
Jumpy chose the one she had picked and we painted it yesterday, using a paint pot sample I had bought for £1.
I gave it another coat with Wriggly this afternoon and we added some gold sprinkles to give our pumpkin a festive look. Ta-dah!
Will you have a teal pumpkin in your window tonight?
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I’ve been wondering about the teal pumpkin thing! Thanks for sharing xx
It’s a great idea, isn’t it? x
Oh what a great idea! Will go share this and will remember to do it next year. We went trick or treating last night and I had to ‘audit’ Lily’s bucket afterwards for the soya based things. x
The first treat my toddler bit into before I had time to check their buckets was… wait for it… an alcohol-filled chocolate (really???). I couldn’t believe it!
That is amazing and very thoughtful for children on Halloween – we don’t get any – haven’t for years but I think it’s such a positive thing xo
It is a great initiative, isn’t it? I’m definitely doing this every year from now on.
This is such a good idea! I am now dairy free after my doctor told me I had to do it and thinking back now this would be perfect for Children as so many have allergies so having a seperate section of sweets or treats makes it so much easier!
It really does, and it proved a lot more popular than I was expecting!
What a lovely idea. I didn’t know about that his year but I’ll try and remember next Halloween.
I’ll give you a nudge, he he!
Ah what a fabulous idea, I have yet to see one but will keep my eyes peeled
I know… I didn’t see a single one in our neighbourhood. Well, other than ours I mean. I’m sure it will pick up once people start talking about it.
Oh my goodness that is such a wonderful idea xx
Thanks lovely!
that is an absolutely fantastic idea! I wish more and more people do this! And i am doing this next year for sure! We only eat Halal sweets so this is going to be a bonus for my son!
I’m glad it came in handy! I’ll be writing about it earlier than 31st October next year!
Wow this is such a fantastic idea. My friends little girl has so many allergies and when she goes home she always has to hand over her treats bless her xxx
It’s so sad when you have to take all the treats away from them…
I think this is such a great idea. Not everyone wants to eat sugar either!
True!
I think the teal pumpkin campaign is such a great idea to make Halloween more inclusive.
It is and I’ll make sure I promote it as much as I can in October next year!
what an absolutely fab idea, my poor daughter is allergic to milk and soya and therefore chocolate and alot of sweets she is unable to enjoy, good for her teeth but not so much for her morale, when she has to hand over all the sweeties.
Thank you for promoting this and I for sure, will have a teal pumpkin next year 🙂
Brilliant!
This is such a fabulous idea, I just thought it was to be fashionable. Love it!
He he! Fashionable me!
What a great idea, I’ve never heard of this before but I’ll definitely be doing this next year x
I’ll be doing it every year too!
That’s such a great idea and so good for kids who have allergies x
I really hope it picks up and I see a few around our area next year.
I hadn’t heard of this scheme but think it is amazing! I will definitely be doing teal pumpkins in the future x
Yay! i’m so glad so many people are excited about this! Will remind everyone at the start of October next year. x
This year was our second year taking part in the #tealpumpkinproject – long may it continue! #freefromfridays
It’s a great initiative, isn’t it?
What a brilliant idea, I will have to do this when its Halloween next year.
I love this idea! This should definitely become a much more popular thing!