Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

142 replies

ThisIsSamhain · 29/10/2019 15:10

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?

OP posts:
venusandmars · 29/10/2019 15:54

I wouldn't notice if they had orange buckets, blue buckets, an old sack or a Gucci handbag. I totally get the concept behind the 'blue-bucket' autism awareness, but honestly why buy a plastic bucket in the first place? It's just more crap in our oceans or land-fill. Promoted by crap-plastic pedlars who make money out of it without a care for our pockets or our environment.

IamWaggingBrenda · 29/10/2019 15:58

We have this in Canada. The point is, assuming you’ve even heard of it, is that if a child shows up at your door who seems to be too old to be trick or treating but has a blue pumpkin, they are likely autistic and simply enjoying Hallowe’en! I don’t think using one if not autistic is not a big deal. Go ahead and use them.

x2boys · 29/10/2019 15:58

I have a,severely autistic child I don't think it's akin to using a a disabled toilet or parking space and we pp,s have said l st people don't see the colours of the bucket anyway .

Samplesss · 29/10/2019 16:03

OP it's fine, for goodness sake. Enjoy!

ILearnedItFromABook · 29/10/2019 16:04

Good grief! OP, ignore the people insinuating that it's a problem for any reason at all. It's not. Most people won't know-- and if a family with an autistic child was that worried about it, they'd best have already bought their blue bucket or will need to make their own arrangements (paint another bucket blue, tie a big blue bow on it, etc.). However, since most people giving out treats won't know the significance of the blue buckets, anyway, it seems like a lot of effort for little return.

Anyone who would judge someone for having a blue bucket when they aren't autistic isn't worth the bother. What if a child likes blue? Is s/he to be forbidden from using it? Ridiculous!

Babynamechangerr · 29/10/2019 16:04

Whilst I'm a for inclusion I think most people participating in Halloween, either by answering the door or by visiting houses his going yo be busy enough without worrying whether a particular kid has ASD.

Awareness of the blue bucket thing is too low to have an impact, if a parent wants people to make allowances fir their ASD child then a badge would be better, which I've seen done kids wear.

Birdsfoottrefoil · 29/10/2019 16:04

Quite a few autistic people are also posting on social media requesting people DON’T use blue buckets for autism as it makes children stand out and potentially stigmatises them. I think most people just won’t have a clue anyway. So use the buckets!

Ronnie27 · 29/10/2019 16:05

Just on this page we have people who know they’re to signal autism, people who haven’t heard of it, people who support it, people who disagree with the idea and people who have brought up teal pumpkins which I’ve also never heard of. It’s a minefield out there, who knew! Look what you’ve done op! Grin

RubbingHimSourly · 29/10/2019 16:06

Blue is the colour used by Autism speaks anyways in the UK it tends to be the jigsaw logo. Either way, it's fine to use them.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 29/10/2019 16:06

Ye gods!

It's a bloody bucket! The blue bucket 'thing' is like a facebook craft selling page - full of well meaning shite that no bugger else knows anything about. It isn't a national charity 'thing' it isn't an autism 'event', it's a few people trying to make 'a thing' happen... I assume this thread will help it's viral spread! Your SIL is just a bit more 'woke' to this one!

Mustbetimeforachange · 29/10/2019 16:07

Use carrier bag, no-one will notice! I have no idea what the kids that come to our door are carrying. It's dark, they knock, grab a handful of sweets & go.

underground76 · 29/10/2019 16:07

Almost nobody who answers the door to your kids will even notice what colour their bucket is, let alone make the connection. About 98% of people have probably never even heard about autistic children having blue Halloween buckets.

DriftingLeaves · 29/10/2019 16:08

Nobody will care what colour the buckets are.

DullPortraits · 29/10/2019 16:13

Pretty sure its a made up thing by a mom who by sharing what she does with her child with autism hopes it catches on and everyone else follows suit so it becomes "a thing" most parents with children with special needs hate giving their child a label and have them stand out so wont do this. Most people will not have seen her trending social media plee and therefore will not care nor notice what colour bucket your child is carrying

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 29/10/2019 16:20

I had no idea about it. Most people will have no idea about it.

It'll be fine.

SlideyFuckers · 29/10/2019 16:20

@GoldenBlue
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

You're assuming most people will know that. This thread is evident most people, including those that work with autistic kids, have no idea.

nancyclancy123 · 29/10/2019 16:25

I have an autistic dd, she has an orange bucket. She doesn’t want a blue one!!

ChocolateTeapot1 · 29/10/2019 16:25

I only saw that on Fb the other day, nice idea in theory but we don't have a light outside our house anyway so I can't really tell what colour bucket someone is waving at me.

I wouldn't worry I highly doubt anyone will even know about the blue bucket thing anyway.

drspouse · 29/10/2019 16:27

We use the kids beach buckets. Nobody will care.

MaisyMary77 · 29/10/2019 16:29

Don’t Halloween containers come in all shapes and sizes anyway? I’ve seen kids with cauldrons, skulls, buckets, carrier bags.... my severely autistic son loved trick or treating (has now suddenly decided he doesn’t want to-I’m relieved as he’s 6’3, no sense of danger and prone to running away) I was always slightly concerned people might think he was too old but generally people could tell instantly he’s autistic-without a blue bucket.
Use the blue buckets and have a lovely time!

viccat · 29/10/2019 16:43

We usually get about 30 trick or treaters visiting and I don't even notice what kind of a bucket, bag or other container they have - and it's dark by then anyway.

Use them!

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 29/10/2019 16:56

This sounds like an initiative from someone who really doesn’t understand autism. And is possibly trying to make a profit.

HoHoHolyCow · 29/10/2019 16:58

I have a child with ASD who enjoys halloween. I had no idea about blue buckets. Use them! It's a massive waste otherwise!!

Fundays12 · 29/10/2019 16:58

My son has autism I don’t have a blue bucket nor will I purchase one. Most people haven’t got a clue about the blue significance anyway and there is debate if it’s the right colour as a dodgy American autism “awareness” charity use blue. I would get the kids to colour in s drawing and put it over it if you are bothered.

Whitney168 · 29/10/2019 17:00

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

Are people actually meant to have a menu of treats addressing all known allergens now, and then non-food for others? WTF? I think you are seriously over-estimating the thought people give to this.