The teal pumpkin project has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to make Halloween more inclusive for children with food allergies or other conditions. A teal pumpkin on a doorstep signals that the household is offering non-food treats for trick-or-treaters. This allows all children to enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating without worry. If you want to participate in the teal pumpkin project this year, you may be wondering what non-food items to offer. This article will provide suggestions on fun and safe teal pumpkin treats to buy.
Why Teal Pumpkins?
The teal pumpkin project was started in 2012 by a mother in Tennessee named Becky Basalone. Basalone’s son had severe food allergies that prevented him from enjoying many Halloween candies. She decided to paint a pumpkin teal and put it outside her house to indicate she had non-food treats available. The idea spread nationwide as a way to promote inclusion.
It is estimated that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 32 million children. The top 8 most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. For kids with these allergies, many typical Halloween candies could pose a serious risk. Parent groups like FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) have promoted the teal pumpkin project to raise awareness.
In addition to food allergies, some kids have celiac disease, diabetes, or other conditions that limit their ability to eat candy. The teal pumpkin project gives all children a chance to still enjoy the fun of Halloween.
Non-Food Teal Pumpkin Treat Ideas
When choosing non-food items to hand out for teal pumpkins, you want to pick fun treats that will appeal to kids of all ages. Try to choose small toys, activities, and other items that will fit nicely into a trick-or-treat bag. Here are some great ideas:
Stickers
Stickers are an inexpensive but fun teal pumpkin treat for kids of all ages. Choose a variety pack that includes stickers of popular characters, animals, Halloween themes, vehicles, sports, glitter, 3D, glow-in-the-dark, and more. Kids will love decorating their trick-or-treat bags and rooms with fun stickers. Some good sticker pack options include:
– 50-100 pack variety sticker multipacks
– Glow in the dark sticker packs
– Foam sticker packs
– Window sticker packs
– Scratch and sniff stickers
Stamps and ink pads
Stamps or ink pads with Halloween-themed stamps make a crafty teal pumpkin treat. Kids will have fun stamping designs on paper, their treat bags, or cards when they get home. Opt for washable kid-safe stamp pads and age-appropriate stamps like pumpkins, bats, spiders, ghosts, monsters, witches, etc.
Bracelets, rings, necklaces
Mini jewelry like bracelets, rings, and necklaces can be a cute teal pumpkin treat for kids. Pick Halloween themed items like bats, pumpkins, skulls, ghosts, or spiders. Glow in the dark, neon, or glittery options are extra fun.
Mini puzzles and activity books
Mini puzzles, maze books, or Sudoku/word search books make great teal pumpkin treats that provide an activity option. Search party supply stores for small puzzles or activity books that will fit in treat bags.
Bubbles
Mini bubble containers with blowers are always a hit with younger kids. Bubbles encourage active play and are inexpensive, non-messy, and fun for Halloween nights.
Mini notebooks and pens
Mini spiral notebooks or notepads along with Halloween-themed pens or pencils make a nice teal pumpkin treat for older kids. They can use them to write stories, draw pictures, or craft thank you notes.
Mini playdough containers
Hand out mini playdough containers in Halloween colors or themes. Kids can squish and shape the playdough into pumpkins, monsters, or other creations. It’s an engaging tactile activity for younger kids.
Fidget toys
Fidget toys like spinners, cubes, silicone poppers and more are fun for kids who need sensory input. Great small toy options to include in teal pumpkin treats.
Mini coloring books and crayons
Mini coloring books with Halloween themes plus a small pack of crayons or colored pencils make a nice creative teal pumpkin treat. Search party stores for themed mini coloring books.
Plastic jewelry making kits
Mini plastic jewelry making kits allow kids to construct their own wearable bracelets, rings, and necklaces. Choose Halloween themed options like glow in the dark beads.
Mini slime or putty
Mini plastic containers of slime or putty in Halloween colors give kids something squishy and tactile to play with. Great for restless hands!
Mini games
Handheld simple games like sliding tile puzzles, spinning tops, yo-yos, bouncy balls, and more make fun teal pumpkin treats to occupy kids.
Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
Glow in the dark sticks, bracelets, or necklaces are always a hit with kids on Halloween. They can wear them while trick-or-treating for extra fun and visibility at nighttime.
Mini rubber ducks
For younger kids, a mini rubber ducky or two in their teal pumpkin treat bag makes for adorable bath time fun. Pick Halloween costume themed ducks.
Mini Lego packs
You can purchase small Lego brick packs that contain enough pieces for kids to build something simple. Mini Lego kits are always a thrill for young builders.
Mini origami kits
Hand out mini origami kits for an interactive craft. Look for kits that include origami paper plus instructions on how to fold fun animals, figures, or shapes.
Plastic harmonicas
Plastic harmonicas can provide musical fun in a pinch. Just right for tossing in a teal pumpkin treat bag.
Mini finger puppets
Look for mini finger puppets in Halloween themes like monsters, witches, black cats, ghosts, or mummies. Kids will have a blast playing with these tiny hand puppets.
Mini water coloring books
These mini water coloring books include a small water pen that kids can use to fill in the colored outlines. The paper changes color when wet for instant art fun.
Mini sidewalk chalk packs
Sidewalk chalk is the perfect take-home treat for teal pumpkins. Kids can decorate their driveway or sidewalk. Pick Halloween colors like orange, black, green, and purple.
Mini sticker by number packs
These packs include sticker shapes and a laminated board with numbers. Kids stick each shape sticker on its corresponding number to complete the full image. Great for fine motor skills.
Mini flashlights
A mini LED flashlight can provide hours of entertainment. Kids can use it to read under the covers or hunt for toys in dark corners. Select fun shapes like pumpkins, ghosts, or bats.
Glow bracelets
Bright rubber glow bracelets in neon shades make cool Halloween accessories kids can wear out while trick-or-treating. They help provide visibility at nighttime too.
Mini silly putty eggs
Silly putty eggs are sized right to fit in a teal pumpkin treat bag. Kids can stretch and mold the putty into fun shapes.
Mini hands-on games
Look for mini travel-sized versions of hands-on games like Pick-Up Stix, Jacks, marbles, or magnetic fishing games. These provide interactive fun.
Mini playing cards
A mini deck of playing cards in a Halloween theme can provide card game fun on the go. Kids will enjoy showing off their spooky decks to friends.
Spider rings
Plastic spider rings encased in plastic balls are a Halloween tradition. Kids love wearing these creepy crawly rings.
Vampire fangs
A set of plastic vampire fangs offers hours of roleplaying fun. Kids will have a ball showing off their “bite”.
Mini bubbles
Mini plastic bubble wands with solution provide floating bubble fun. Bubbles entertain kids of all ages on Halloween night.
Balloons
Grab a pack of Halloween-themed latex balloons and hand them out to teal pumpkin trick-or-treaters. Kids can blow them up and bat them around for active play.
Mini kazoos
Plastic kazoos in spooky shapes give kids their own noisemaker to toot on Halloween night. Hand out mini kazoos from party supply stores.
Mini sticky hand toys
These sticky hand toys allow kids to launch their hand and have it stick on walls or windows, then slowly crawl down. Great for gross motor skills.
Bouncy balls
Fun shaped rubber bouncy balls in Halloween motifs like pumpkins, bats, or ghosts can provide active fun for kids. Bounce away!
Mini water squirters
Mini plastic water squirters shaped like spooky creatures give kids a safe way to spray and play, either outdoors or in the bath.
Plastic vampire teeth
Hand out plastic sets of vampire fangs so kids can dress up as whatever spooky creature they desire. Complete their costume without candy.
Mini paranormal activity books
Activity books about ghosts, UFOs, monsters, and other paranormal themes capture kids’ imaginations. Great for nighttime reading under the covers!
Mini monster squishies
These mini foam monster squishies are fantastic sensory toys. Kids can squish and shape them while building finger muscles.
Mini Rubik’s cubes
Challenge older kids with mini Rubik’s cubes. They provide a brain teaser puzzle game for hours of fun.
Mini magnifying glasses
A mini magnifying glass empowers kids to explore the micro world. Great for amateur nature scientists and detectives!
Mini finger skateboards
Finger skateboards are mini-sized skateboards kids can manipulate with their fingers to perform tricks. Perfect for the aspiring skater.
Mini pinwheels
Hand out mini plastic pinwheel toys that spin in the wind. Kids can run and watch them turn for active outside play on Halloween.
Mini dinosaur figures
Dump a handful of miniature plastic dinosaur figures in their treat bag for dino adventures. Kids love collecting these realistic models.
Mini spinning tops
Hand out mini spinning top toys in Halloween designs like bats, pumpkins, or ghosts. Kids can practice spinning skills and penmanship.
Puffy stickers
Grab bulk packs of little puffy stickers in a variety of cute Halloween motifs. Their 3D puffy texture makes them extra fun for sticking.
Erasers
Fun shaped rubbery erasers like pumpkins, ghosts, or jack-o-lanterns make both writing and art more entertaining. Toss a few in each teal pumpkin bag.
Mini silly glasses
Hand out mini silly glasses like silly eyeballs, big nose/mustache glasses or other optical illusions. Kids will crack up wearing these.
Mini paper airplanes
Make batches of mini paper airplanes ahead of time to include in teal pumpkin treat bags. Kids will love racing these around.
Mini paper finger puppets
Cut out small finger puppets on cardstock and let kids’ imaginations soar. Animals, people, monsters make cute themes.
Mini plastic dinosaurs
Throw in a couple mini plastic dino figurines like T-rexes or triceratops for dino play. Kids always adore dinosaurs.
Temporary Halloween tattoos
Fun temporary tattoo sheets in Halloween themes allow kids to decorate themselves. Just add water to apply.
Mini bottles of soap bubbles
Mini travel sized bottles of bubble soap solution with a wand allow kids to blow bubbles on the go.
Mini play cars
Hot Wheels type mini toy cars are always a hit with kids who will race them across every surface. Fun to play while walking too.
Mini containers of Play-Doh
Single serving containers of Play-Doh modeling compound give kids something to sculpt and shape on Halloween.
Mini Etch A Sketches
Mini handheld Etch A Sketches provide drawing fun in a retro way. Kids can create and erase their masterpieces.
Assorted stickers
Stickers remain a top treat for kids. Make up grab bags with an assortment of fun stickers in every size and theme.
Spider rings
Every kid loves wearing a big creepy spider ring on Halloween! Hand them out for inexpensive spooky fun.
Mini notepads and pencils
Mini notebooks or notepads plus a themed pencil make great take-home treats for teal pumpkins. Kids can use them to write and draw.
Mini plastic vampire teeth
A set of plastic vampire fangs offers hours of roleplaying fun. Kids will have a ball showing off their “bite”.
Mini Slinkies
Hand out mini Slinky toys that can bounce down stairs or flip end over end. Timeless active fun!
Mini water guns
On warm evenings, mini water guns enable kids to safely shoot streams of water for active play.
Mini finger labyrinth games
These miniature games have small steel ball bearings that kids guide through a maze using their finger. Great for developing fine motor skills.
Mini kaleidoscopes
Mini kaleidoscope tubes offer an enchanting peek into a world of optical illusions. Twist and turn to make beautiful designs.
Mini sticky hand toys
These sticky hand toys allow kids to launch their hand up and have it stick on walls/windows, then slowly crawl down.
Mini sandbox toys
Pick up a bunch of mini sandbox toys like shovels, rakes, buckets, molds, trucks, animals. Kids can scoop and pour anywhere.
Mini finger puppets
Choose cute mini finger puppets like monsters, animals, or historical figures. Kids love role playing with these tiny puppets.
Mini yo-yos
Hand out mini sized yo-yos for a classic spinning toy that kids can perfect their skills on. Have contests for the best tricks.
Bendable figurines
Flexible posable figurines in Halloween themes bend and stand in any pose. Kids will love shaping them.
Mini spinning tops
Challenge kids’ fine motor skills with mini pull-string spinning tops. Have contests to see who can keep theirs going the longest.
Mini bubbles
Small containers of bubbles solution plus mini bubble wands provide floating bubble fun. Bubbles make kids smile.
Mini fingerboards
These tiny “finger” skateboards with miniature skaters are fun to manipulate to perform skateboard tricks.
Mini sticky foam puzzles
These sticky foam puzzles stick to windows and reuse over and over. Great for building spatial reasoning skills.
Mini rubber ducks
A couple of mini rubber duckies make cute bath time companions. Look for ducks in costume themes.
Mini Halloween tattoos
Let kids decorate their skin with mini temporary tattoo sheets in Halloween themes. Just add water to apply.
Mini plastic harmonicas
Plastic harmonicas offer tooting musical fun. Toss them in treat bags for kids to play tunes as they walk.
Mini paddle balls
The classic paddle ball toy with rubber ball attached by string provides active fun. See who can keep the ball bouncing longest.
Mini Rubik’s cubes
Challenge older kids with mini Rubik’s cubes. They provide a brain teaser puzzle game for hours of fun.
Mini maze books
Mini maze and activity books packed with mazes, word finds, crosswords, and more make great brain-building treats.
Mini keychains
Look for Halloween themed mini keychains like jack-o-lanterns, skulls, or bats. Kids will love clipping them.
Mini sticky poppers
These sensory gel toys can be squeezed, popped, stretched repeatedly. Great for restless hands!
Mini coloring books and crayons
Fun sized coloring books plus a small pack of crayons