To use blue Halloween buckets when kids don't have autism?

[ThisIsSamhain]

Asked my mum to get trick or treat buckets.

She text to say she got the last 3 in the shop.

They're blue. I thought they were cute and just a £1 shop design.

SIL pointed out they are for autism awareness? I had no idea and neither did mum. She said there was no explanation on shelves.

I can't go all the way back to town and spend £10 on bus tickets and £3 on buckets when we already have some, just blue.

Can I just use them?

If you are uncomfortable with it, then why don't you cover the buckets with something (orange Sainsbury's bag for example).

There were lots of different colours being sold locally around last year, and I don't recall noticing any of the colours among the people we saw. So unless people are looking for it, they won't notice.

It is something that makes me a bit uncomfortable with the colours meaning different things (like dog leads). Most people don't know what it means, which leads ime to people being more upset because they think everyone else knows and are ignoring it.

I was told the blue ones were for older children who might look too old to go trick or treating, and have learning difficulties, so they are still enjoying activities that aren't necessarily considered age appropriate. That's what's going round our local FB anyway, so it's not even consistent.

It did also occur to me that if that if it took off, it wouldn't take long before some of the local youth thought this was a good idea to take advantage of.

I don’t think it’s an official thing tbh. I’ve only seen the one picture shared over and over saying they’re for autism awareness- no idea of source but it was just people sharing a photo with no charity logos or anything. Tbh I think it’s a pretty silly way of signifying autism or SNs. Those buckets have for years come in all colours. Orange green and black are most popular but I’ve seen them in red and pink too. I really think most people won’t realise blue buckets have any special meaning to them.

I work with and have children with autism and have never heard of it. Sounds like something made up and rather silly.

Oh FFs! When will the madness end!!!

At the end of the day they ring the bell and hold out there bucket/bag/hat whatever
Same end result. Your massively overthinking it!

I've only seen it this year and read it was for older children/adults who people may think are too old to be trick or treating

I'd use them if I were you, I have a child with asd but haven't bought a blue bucket as we will be using last year's. I'd think lots of people won't even know about it

I agree it just sounds made up. Doing the rounds on Facebook probably

The actually autistic community have condemned the use of blue pumpkins for autism awareness: autistic-on-wheels.blogspot.com/2019/10/resource-blue-pumpkins-for-halloween.html?spref=fb&m=1

People should really look up the organisation behind the going blue for autism before they start using it anyway. It’s not a positive thing and I certainly won’t be using it for my daughter.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2018/03/26/this-is-why-i-will-never-light-it-up-blue-for-autism-awareness-we-do-not-need-a-cure-because-autism-is-not-a-disease-7408706/amp/

I think it's fine - from what I understood it's so people understand if they see an older child or young adult dressed up with a blue bucket but I could be wrong

In all the years I have had kids knock at my door I have never looked at the buckets, it is too much of a rush operation collecting sweets!

No it is not official, it has been attributed to autism as blue is the colour of Autism Speaks, but is just something on Facebook that has gone viral.

Blue is the colour of Autism Speaks a charity who raises funds to find a "cure" for autism. None of the money they raise ever goes towards actually helping autistic people to live easier lives. They also love ABA therapy, which is like dog therapy for children. And why blue? Because there's more autistic boys apparently. There isn't, girls just don't get diagnosed. Autistic self advocacy networks prefer gold. Au is the element of autism after all. We don't need special pumpkins and the like, we just need to be understanding that people have different neurotypes, and that's ok. And also not infantilise neurodivergent people, which seems to be the big aim of the blue pumpkins.

That being said, use whichever colour you like. No-one knows the significance of the colours.

it will be dark - no one will see the colour of the buckets anyway

Urgent these are allergy awareness buckets. Kids with them need extra care with what they're given. Most people will give small gifts (ball, car etc ) rather than food based tokens

It’s not made up , I’ve heard lots about it, just because some of you haven’t heard about it please don’t piss on the idea,

I tell you what It’s easy enough to fucking Google it and learn something

Quite honestly? It’s a bucket!

Most people just hold out the bowl of sweets and wait for the children to take one and off they go! I’ve seen kids holding all sorts of coloured buckets! Stop panicking and just send them on their way.

If anyone gets offended, gees sorry but these days so much is offensive. Would you think twice if your DCs seaside bucket and spade at the beach were blue? Probably not. Many people find the whole concept of Halloween offensive. Don’t worry yourself.

My only thought was the whole blue teal pumpkin thing and people might think your children need inedible treats instead of sweets. If that gets offered just politely say no thank you I guess.

Don’t think anymore about it. It will also be dark!

I dont get this, sorry but truck or treat is a 30 second interaction, door open "ooh your scary" heres a sweet, door closed.
Use whatever buckets you have you dont need to give this a second thought never mind return them to the shop, madness

It's not going to matter. If the buckets are meant for those who look too 'old' to be trick or treating, I don't see how that will be undermined by one instance of younger trick or treaters using them.

It's not a 'warning' it was suggested by one mom and went viral.

It's unfortunate tho as golden says it rips the idea of the teal pumpkin project which has been around for the last couple of years (In the USA anyway) which was a way for kids with allergies / couldnt eat sweets to participate in Halloween. Any participating houses could use a teal / blue bucket to show that they had non sweets stuff to give out (stickers etc)

I can Google too (though I had actually read this a couple of days ago)

fullfact.org/online/blue-trick-or-treating-pumpkin-buckets-are-not-official-symbols-autistic-community/

evilspirit you haven’t shown anything that attributes this to a reputable source.

As others have said, nobody will think anything of it. We have pink Halloween bags from last year (all they had left!). No idea if pink is meant to represent something but if it did I'd carry on lol. Nobody will think anything of it

My daughter has autism and I had no idea at all about these blue buckets. Now that I know..I honestly wouldnt care if kids used them who dont have autism.