Avoid Saying These Things To Oklahoma’s Trick-Or-Treaters on Halloween

Happy Halloween, Oklahoma! Everyone's excited for the costume contests, the chance to be out and about with your family and of course: candy. Whether you're handing out candy to the kids, taking your children out for Halloween, or trick-or-treating yourself, there's a few things you should avoid saying.

@cass_walton01 Cmon Oklahoma…. #oklahoma #halloween #oklahomaweather #fall #wtf #daltontrey #okie ♬ original sound - Dalton Trey

Why Should I Know What Not To Say?

Halloween is either one of the funnest events of the year, or it can be one of the scariest for Oklahomans. Although it isn't Oklahoma's biggest fear as a state, public speaking and social anxiety is a growing issue for lots of folks. Remember that, even if something is easy for you, it isn't always the case for others.

Something as simple as saying "trick-or-treat" can be a huge feat for someone with a disorder. But does that mean they should miss out on the chance to dress up and get candy? Absolutely not.

New Things You May Notice in Oklahoma on Halloween

How would you know if someone has a disability or not? Really, there's no real need to know. If someone is comfortable, they're more than likely to say what they'd like to in the few seconds they'll be visiting. If not, then simply "smile and wave." The only thing you may need to know are allergies to certain candy.

@the.baby.dietitian The Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick or treaters. Help us make this Halloween one to remember! By adding your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map, you are making your house easy to find for those on the hunt for non-food treats. The more houses added to the Map, the more inclusive (and therefore more fun) we can make Halloween! Reminders for Trick or Treating with a child with a food allergy: -Stock up on safe treats or inexpensive trinkets/toys to trade for any unsafe candies your child might receive while trick-or-treating. You can also use sorting through your child’s candy as an opportunity to teach him or her about hidden allergens and reading labels. -Enforce a “no eating while trick-or-treating” rule, so that you have time to review all food labels. -Avoid candy and treats that do not have an ingredient label. Always have an epinephrine auto-injector available, if prescribed. -Keep in mind that the mini-size, fun-size, or bite-size version of candy may contain different ingredients than their full-size counterparts. Make no assumptions, and read all labels carefully. Source: Foodallergy.org Will you be part of the teal pumpkin project this year? #tealpumpkinproject #babyledweaning #babydietitian #foodallergy #pediatricdietitian #thebabydietitian ♬ original sound - Cindy S. RD, IBCLC

This year, if you notice a house with teal colored pumpkins, your child with food allergies will be able to stop by and get something different without nuts or other likely allergens.

Trick-or-treaters of All Ages Welcome in Oklahoma

Halloween really doesn't have many rules in Oklahoma. Unlike certain states that do have an age limit, Oklahoma does not. And many of our followers have stated that they would love nothing more than to see trick-or-treaters of all ages stop by this evening. Some of the comments were:

• "The ONLY right awnser is.....let them choose candy or toy, like all the other kids, would you rather them be trick or treating or being at a party." - Damien Draper, Stillwater
• "Compliment that costume give them their treat and tell them Happy Halloween" - Shanay Herring, Stillwater
• "Let the person be a kid and have fun. Candy. Oh, and here’s one for your Dad out there on the sidewalk walking along keeping a friendly eye on all the kids." - Richard Spangle, Lawton
• "Give him treats and be glad he’s not out doing drugs or destroying anything !!" - Sandy Griffin, Cushing

In short, enjoy the celebration with everyone else. Don't worry about making someone do something, or how old someone else is. All that matters is having fun and getting some candy (and being safe while doing it, of course).

Happy Halloween!