- How to Talk to Children About Egg Allergies - J. LaSpina
Explaining food allergy to a child is a difficult task. Many adults don't even grasp the definition and seriousness of a true food allergy. For food allergic children, education is key to keeping them safe. Friends and classmates of a food allergic child can be strong allies in protecting a child with food allergy, both physically and emotionally. Parents and educators should seek out age-appropriate resources to explain food allergy to children.
How to Talk About Food Allergies to Children Age Five and Under
Children at this age should be able to rely on a parent of other primary caregiver to keep them safe. However, young children do need some basic knowledge about food allergy. It is critical for parents of young food allergic toddlers and preschoolers to teach their children the following:
- that certain foods can make them feel sick, so they must not eat those foods
- to only eat foods supplied by their parent or other trusted adult
- to not put things (food and non-food items) in their mouths
- to not share food with others
- to listen to their bodies when eating. Young children should be told that they should spit out anything that is making their mouth itchy or otherwise making them feel funny
Friends and playmates of young children can also be taught food allergy basics. They can be told that their friend can get sick if they eat certain foods. All children can be taught to wash hands after eating to keep their food-allergic friend safe. They should also be instructed to never touch another person's food and to keep their hands to themselves when eating.
Some helpful books about food allergy for this age group include Cindy Rice Andrea's The Allergy Buddy Club (Dining in the Light Publications, March 15, 2010). This 24-page book is a story of three animal friends who are all allergic to foods they love. Nicole Smith has authored a series of books designed to explain food allergies to the younger ages. Her books include Allie the Allergic Elephant, Cody the Allergic Cow and Chad the Allergic Chipmunk. Read books such as these to young children and their friends. Consider purchasing food allergy books for your child's daycare or caretaker.
How to Discuss Food Allergy With Elementary School Aged Children
Children in elementary school can handle more information about food allergies. The food allergic child should know that they must avoid the food(s) they are allergic to or they could get really sick or even die. They should also know that epinephrine can stop an allergic reaction immediately, which is why they should always have the medicine near them. Continue to go over the same rules as recommended above to toddlers and preschoolers. Begin to include the child in decisions related to food allergy such as where they want to sit in the school cafeteria and how they want to have their medication accessible to them.
It is critical to involve friends and classmates in the education of food allergy. Programs such as PAL (Protect a Life) through the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) and books like Taking Food Allergies to School (JayJo Books, September 1999) by Ella Weiner and Starting School With a Food Allergy by Christina Black (R3C Creations,May 31, 2007) explain food allergy in terms understood by elementary age children.
Children in this age group will love to hear about food allergies in song. Kyle Dine writes and sings fun tunes such as Epi-Man and Smellaphant the Allergic Elephant to educate and entertain children in how to live safely with food allergy.
Talking to Tweens and Teens About Food Allergy
Tweens and teens should be expected to take more responsibility for their food allergies, but they also need a great deal of support at this time. Not wanting to appear different from their peers, tweens and teens may "forget" their epinephrine, take risks with the foods they eat or ignore symptoms that may be the start of a serious reaction. Practice with older children so they feel comfortable in social situations. Help them feel comfortable saying, "no thank you, I have food allergies" or "I need help because I'm having a food allergy reaction".
Support from others is critical for tweens, teens and young adults. Food allergic tweens and teens can find others their age who deal with food allergy at FAANTeen, the Food Allergy and Anahylaxis Network's site designed for young adults. Friends of food allergic young adults benefit from this site as well through the stories of those who've helped a person with food allergies.
Children of different ages need different things when it comes to living safely with food allergy. Giving age appropriate information, and including caretakers and the child's friends and playmates in the education, protects children with food allergies.
