Our streets will soon be abuzz with werewolves and witches, doctors and superheroes of treats.
It is that time of year when we allow our kids some free expression and lug them around from house-to-house, from business-to-business in search of candy, treats and trinkets. Yes, Halloween will soon be upon us. For those of us who will be keeping our light on, the time to stockpile candy has begun. Before you go out and purchase an untold amount of confectionary goodness, you might want to know what all the craze is about: painted pumpkins. This year, you might notice kids carrying teal pumpkins. The idea is rather simple. Let kids enjoy the experience but also be safe.
Organizers for The Teal Pumpkin Project “encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. The nationwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option.” Their primary goal is to raise awareness and encourage more people to “provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.”
More than five million (1- in-13) children nationwide have a food allergy. Many more avoid or limit it for a variety of reasons. While many businesses such as dentists have been giving out bouncy balls and other trinkets for years, the organizers of Teal Pumpkin hope that the project will lead to non-food items being the norm versus the exception. Can you still hand out candy? “Sure – just do it safely! The point of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to make trick-or-treating as inclusive as possible. You can keep the experience safe by keeping your food treats and non-food treats in separate bowls.”
The world has come a long way since brown bags and pillowcases, but this is one of those times that change is for better. Halloween is the epitome of community holidays. You load the kids up and take them from neighborhood-to-neighborhood, from house-to-house and ring doorbells and exchange niceties. You take a stroll down main street or through a church carnival. Sure, the goal might be candy but as they say, it isn’t the destination that counts but rather the journey.
This Halloween, let’s take a chance. Let’s make it a fun experience for every kid.