Halloween doesn’t have to revolve around candy. For kids with food intolerances, allergies, and other conditions, this spooky season is a dream come true for so many other reasons. First of all, they get to play dress-up. Does it get any better than that? Not to mention, there are pumpkins to carve and hay bales to climb. There’s more than enough magic to go around!
We’ve compiled a list of ways you can incorporate fun into your Halloween festivities without a focus on food!
Carving pumpkins really is an art, so why not get creative? Instead of the typical triangle nose, help your kid give the pumpkin two nostrils — one to insert an actual NG tube. Even better, place two pumpkins on top of each other. The smaller pumpkin on top is the face while the larger one is the body. Insert a G-tube and you’re good to go! You can even use an ostomy pouch and some pumpkin “guts” to give your pumpkin a stoma. All that is left to do is display your pumpkin proudly on the porch.
There are more and more adaptive costumes available as the years go by. These costumes are designed to be adaptive in the following ways: open back for easy access to dressing, flaps for tube access, longer length for seated kids, roomier for extra comfort, and wheelchair-friendly. Browse these adorable costumes from Target.
If you’ve put together a creative, adaptive costume, please share it with us on Facebook.
Stock up on non-food treats and even visit your neighbor’s house early to see if they’ll hand out some non-food goodies as well.
Here are some ideas for treats:
You might even allow your kid to collect candy around the neighborhood to then trade in for bigger prizes at home, like a movie night, backyard campout, or a trip to your local animal shelter to play with puppies!
At Gus Gear, we’re all about putting your own twist on traditions. Teal Pumpkin feels the same way — visit their website to learn all about their mission to make kids with food allergies and other conditions feel included on Halloween. You can even add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map, making your house easy to find for others families on the lookout for non-food treats. Download posters and fliers to encourage your whole neighborhood to join in!