The Teal Pumpkin Project 2024
Image Credit: ©Teal Pumpkin Project
Trick or treating is becoming really big at Halloween in the UK, even if we don't always have the best weather for it in late October!
But what if your children have food allergies or food intolerances meaning that they cannot risk eating the trick or treat items that the other kids can? I bet they are disappointed when you have to tell them they cannot join in with the fun that their friends are having.
Maybe they cannot eat peanuts or other types of nuts. Perhaps they are intolerent to dairy or gluten. Well all they have to do is look out for a Teal Pumpkin!
The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in the US by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) to help kids with food allergies or other conditions enjoy Halloween
So What Is The Teal Pumpkin Project All About?
Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food Halloween treats, available such as glow sticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.
Teal pumpkins started to appear in the UK in 2016, and this year it is expected that there will be lots more around as awareness of this brilliant idea increases!
So here are some cool ways that you can join in with the Teal Pumpkin Project and make sure that all kids can join in with Halloween safely.
10 Ways to Join In The Teal Pumpkin Project
Image Credit: ©Teal Pumpkin Project
- Get hold of some non-food treats for Trick or Treaters such as stationary, spooky toys, beads, glowsticks - anything! The Teal Pumpkin Project website has lots of ideas for low-cost Halloween items which you can find at dollar stores, party supply stores, or online shops.
- Get yourself a pumpkin - either a real one or an artificial pumpkin - and paint it teal! Leave it outside your house to show that you have got Halloween gifts for allergy sufferers on 31st October.
- Jaderbomb have a tutorial for a really glamorous glittery teal pumpkin. It uses an artificial pumpkin as the basis, so you could make your own to use year after year, or paint up a real pumpkin.
- Print out Teal Pumpkin Project signs from the FARE website so that folks know that you have non-candy treats. There are also free printable Halloween activity sheets with colouring pictures, dot-to-dots and masks to make as well.
- You could also print out a pumpkin colouring picture which you can find with our collection of free Halloween printable colouring pictures then colour it teal and make your own sign to say that you have allergy-free treats.
- This really cute teal mummy pumpkin decoration idea (originally found at Making it Milk-Free, website no longer available) will give everyone a smile on 31st October.
- Add your name to the participation map so that people know you have safe Halloween treats for children with allergies.
- Head over to the Teal Pumpkin Shop for Teal Pumpkin Project products including pumpkins, posters, string lights, teal buckets and stickers, which helps to support and raise money for the project.
- You can also make a donation to the the project, or hold your own fundraising event to raise money to continue the good work of the Teal Pumpkin Project.
- Serious crafters can have a go at this lovely handmade sign by The Inspiration Vault.
- If you have a child who has alergies or intolerances, look out for teal pumpkins!
You can learn more about the work of the Teal Pumpkin Project in this video.
The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT and the Teal Pumpkin Image are trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).