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Non-Candy Giveaways for Trick-or-Treaters

Published in Pediatrics, For the Health of It Author: Tiffany Rickbeil, MD

For children with medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes, eosinophilic esophagitis and food allergies, Halloween can be a truly scary holiday. These children are often excluded from the fun of Halloween night. Consider offering non-food items so that all children can feel included on a memorable night with their friends and family.

Consider offering something that can make a real difference in the experience of children that suffer from food allergies and other medical conditions.

The following non-food giveaways can all be found at the local dollar store, Target or Walmart.

  • Glow sticks and bracelets
  • Halloween stickers
  • Holiday-themed erasers and pencils
  • Spooky play rings

And if ordered ahead of time, the following fun items can be purchased online and shipped to your house in time for the holiday:

As an aside, the Teal Pumpkin Project raises awareness of food allergies through the addition of non-food toys, making Halloween safer and more inclusive for all trick-or-treaters.

The steps are simple:

  1. Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
  2. Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate to neighbors that you have non-food treats available.
  3. Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project map.
  4. Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family.

I will be wishing all the little ghosts and goblins a spooky and safe Halloween!