There are 32,000 children with food allergies in Utah alone. Pat Flynn, the principal at Trailside Elementary in Park City, just recently imposed a school-wide ban on nuts for their 500 students. “It comes down to the safety of the kids,” Flynn explains, “and I don’t care if it’s one or eight.”
So far, several other districts are proposing similar policies and the Utah Food Allergy Network is looking for some sort of uniformity across the state. “Some kids could die within minutes,” adds network director Michelle Fogg.
Since 2008, kids with severe allergic reactions have been allowed to carry epinephrine injections with them. While you can’t count on a school ban to protect your child, you will need to consider various lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms to help your family through these changes.
Sometimes children with food allergies begin to feel depressed or ostracized when other kids tease them for being unable to eat certain foods. It’s important that you sit down with your child and talk about these feelings.
A good way to get into a discussion is to read one of the books written about food allergies. Nicole Smith is the author of several helpful children’s food allergy books, such as Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children’s Story of Peanut Allergies; Cody the Allergic Cow: A Children’s Story of Milk Allergies; and Chad the Allergic Chipmunk: A Children’s Story of Nut Allergies.
For other wonderful books to go over with your child, please visit www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/books-child.html. By reading these books, children will learn how to avoid dangerous situations and stay safe just like their favorite characters in these memorable stories.
A good place to learn more about helping children with food allergies cope is www.allergicchild.com. This website is focused on helping kids who have food allergies to live the healthiest and most normal lives possible.
Parents can sign up for free monthly newsletters with expert columns and may also read e-books; How to Send your Food Allergic Child to School; How to Help Your Child Succeed with Food Allergy and Behavior Manifestations: Giftedness, Autism & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; How Do I Keep My Food Allergic Child Safe; and Traveling and Eating Out with Food Allergies.
Allergy information is important in the early stages of your child’s diagnosis, but it is through support networks that you will learn to endure.
To read more Finding Information About Children With Food Allergies Online
