TULSA, Okla. — For kids who are ready to trick or treat, some may feel left out due to dietary restrictions or special needs, like autism.
In 2012, a mother of a child with food restrictions put a teal pumpkin outside her home to let other children with food allergies know they offered allergy-free candy and little toys.
The trend evolved into children taking teal, blue, and purple candy buckets, which can alert candy givers of children who have special needs.
- Teal buckets: Kids who have food allergies
- Purple buckets: Children with epilepsy
- Blue buckets: Children with autism or a sensory disorder
For kids like Reed Simmons Halloween is his favorite time of year.
“He listens to Halloween music all year long…he loves it because it's all about socializing,” Reed Simmons' mom, Halie said.
Reed has Down Syndrome and like some can get overwhelmed or don’t have the social cues like others.
We listened to his mom Halie Simmons on what he’s done in the past Halloween.
“Sometimes they open the door and he tries to go around them to check it out or if they have a dog he wants to go pet the dog," Simmons explained.
For non-verbal kids or kids with sensory defects that might make Halloween spookier than most.
A new trend is happening on the holiday, blue candy buckets let candy givers know that children may not react like most when coming to the door.
Halie told 2 News, that Reed doesn’t use the blue bucket personally but it is a great idea for others.
“I understand how the blue bucket is being, like oh, I bet this guy might act a little different or not appropriately, it’s a good little way to communicate," said Simmons.
Halie says at Reed’s school they practice Halloween nights to help him and his classmates out.
“They help them practice putting on their costumes and his class gets to go to the administrative offices and practices saying trick or treat and signing thank you and how to do it appropriately,” Simmons said.
Simmons said it's great for whatever works for kids to enjoy the one night filled with candy and fun.
“There’s no reason every kid can't be included...just getting to indulge in something all kids love, they all love candy, they all love.”
The Lighthouse Autism Center said if people pass out candy and children have one of these colored buckets, be mindful of everyone.
Children with autism may not say trick-or-treat or thank you; Lighthouse Autism Center says to be patient and accepting for those passing out candy.
Children with food allergies who carry a teal bucket may also look sad when they can’t receive candy. The Lighthouse Center suggests having non-food items like stickers, bubbles, or glow sticks so they feel included as well.
Decorations in front yards may be a sensory overload for children with autism. For children with epilepsy, flashing lights from decorations or colored lights could trigger a seizure.
Experts said every child should be included in this holiday and can be possible for people who pass candy out.
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