Can the Candy :: How to Partake in the Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project‘s official crusade is, “Raising awareness of food allergies through the addition of non-food trinkets and toys to your treats, making Halloween safer and more inclusive for all trick or treaters.” Maybe this sounds heaven-sent for kids you know with life-threatening conditions, or maybe you’re another lucky family with negligible food allergies, like in our house where kids love announcing that dairy makes them toot. Either way, you should be ALL OVER this movement.

Why? 1) inclusivity, 2) teal blends in SO much better with your carefully curated decor than that garish orange, and 3) the candy thing may not be as fun anymore. Perhaps it’s because we’re all a bit more knowledgeable about what sugar does to us. Perhaps it’s because the bulk bags start showing up 7 weeks in advance, and then by Halloween we’ve realized we ate them all already.

Whatever the reason, it’s totally fun to shock your neighborhood kids with a choice – candy, or a bowl of TOYS?!

Don’t forget to let everyone know you’re participating! Put out a teal pumpkin, print out some pretty signs, and register your goodies on the NextDoor Treat Map.

Here are some fun ideas for toys to pass out this Halloween:

Stuffed Emoji Keychains (30 for $21.99): As you can guess, the poop-mojis go first. 

Slap Bracelets (96 for $12.95): Yeah, they’re in again. Really.

Themed Washi Tape (16 rolls for $9.99): Ok, the Pinterest/Bullet Journal moms might be stealing this one.

Play-doh (15 for $13.49): Has anyone figured out what to do with these cute little empty containers when your 4-year-old inevitably leaves the lid off overnight?

Glow Bracelets (100 for $7.99): Makes kids easy to spot when they pass out in the bushes from sugar-shock.

Stickers (108 for $4.99): Let Halloween leave a lasting impression! (with what will inevitably end up being scraped off some wall/furniture/vehicle in a week)