Back to School Tips for Children Allergic to Peanuts or Other Foods

Every new school year brings additional stress to parents with children allergic to peanuts or other foods. In addition to getting school supplies, schedules and transportation arrangements figured out, parents with children allergic to peanuts and other foods need to educate their children and the school staff about food allergies.

Back to School Tips for Elementary School Children Allergic to Peanuts and other Food Allergies.

Before school begins, contact your child's teacher and let him or her know of your child's peanut allergy or food allergy. Consider providing teachers and school nurse with a complete fact sheet regarding peanut allergies to help increase their awareness of this potentially life-threatening allergy.

Another tip for children allergic to peanuts and other foods is to provide a snack box for your child to have in the classroom. Ask your child's teacher ahead of time if it would be OK for you to provide a snack box filled with safe treats that your child enjoys. This box can then be brought out for your child to pick treats from when there is a birthday party or other event where there are often several snacks that children allergic to peanuts and other foods cannot enjoy.

The Food Allergy and Analphylaxis Network (FAAN) also provides several useful fact sheets and even a back to school tool kit for parents and children allergic to peanuts and other foods to use to help educate teachers, school staff and even their friends. Be sure your child allergic to peanuts has an Epipen on site in the nurse's office available just in case an emergency does arise. Provide the school with clear instructions on what to do should your child allergic to peanuts or other foods ingest a food allergen.

To help communicate, children allergic to peanuts or other foods should wear a medical alert bracelets or shoe tags to help alert others of your child's peanut allergy. The shoe tags are the most discreet and are easy for your child to wear each day. Older children can carry a medical card in their wallet or backpack.

Back to School Tips for Middle and High School Children Allergic to Peanuts and Other Foods

During the middle school and high school years, children allergic to peanuts and other foods are often more independent and have less adults watching out for them. In fact according to Allergic Living magazine, the highest risk of death due to a life-threatening allergy is during the teen years. Many kids tend to be less vigilant in reading ingredients in order to fit in with their friends.

By the time your child reaches their tween and teen years, convey to him or her how important it is to read labels, ask if foods contain peanuts or other food allergen, and remind them to never eat anything that the ingredients are not posted or are unknown. Remind your child that unlike elementary school, many teachers may not know of their allergy so it is up to your child to remind and inform them of their allergy. Encourage your child to share information about their food allergy with friends.

Make sure the school office has an Epipen on hand for your child and discuss with the school nurse proper procedures should your child become exposed to peanuts or other allergen. Teens allergic to peanuts or other foods should always carry an Epipen in their purse or pocket when going out with friends, field trips or other special events.

Sources -

http://www.allergicliving.com/features.asp?copy_id=43

http://www.foodallergy.org/school/toolkit.html

Personal experience