Michigan: Do You Know What to Do When You See a Blue Jack-O-Lantern?

As the air begins to turn crisp and leaves start to change, kids in Michigan are starting to think about what is coming at the end of the month:  Halloween.

Costumes, candy, and pumpkins are all a big part of October. But while Halloween might be a scary good time for most kids, it can be downright daunting for others.

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You and your family will see all sorts of Halloween decorations and costumes this year as the kids make their annual candy crawl. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind if you're a parent accompanying your children or manning the candy bowl as the trick-or-treaters knock on your front door.

Not All Pumpkins Are Created Equal

Nowadays, pumpkins come in a few different colors. While blue and teal pumpkins add a little variety to the October holiday, they actually bear some significance.

 If you see a teal pumpkin in front of someone's house, this is an indication that the residents are providing non-food treats for trick-or-treaters in order to accommodate children who may have food allergies. Edible treats may also be available, but The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages participants to keep food treats and non-food treats in separate bowls.

Blue pumpkins, on the other hand, have a different meaning. If you see a child carrying a blue pumpkin bucket (or some form of treat back that is blue) this indicates that the child is on the autism spectrum.

Homeowners should be aware that children carrying blue pumpkins may not be verbal and may not respond to verbal cues. Therefore the customary "trick or treat" greeting as well as "thank you" phrases may be omitted from the interaction.

Homeowners can help by displaying blue pumpkins in front of their homes in order to signal that their home is welcoming to children with special needs.

The Autism Society of America shared a few tips with Good Housekeeping on making Halloween more accessible for children with autism.