Tips for Working With Your Child’s School When They Have a Food Allergy

Allergies are one of the most common health conditions that children have, and 4 million kids across the United States have at least one type of food allergy. Whether your child’s food allergy is mild or severe, it can be nerve-wracking to send them to school, away from your watchful eye.

Because so many children have food allergies, most schools have processes and plans to protect kids who are allergic to any food, they are usually inadequate. Since each child is different and every school environment varies, it’s good to be prepared to set your child up for success.

At the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan located in Farmington Hills, Michigan, expert allergist Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, and the rest of our team want to equip you and your child with the knowledge and treatment needed to have a worry-free school year. 

Let’s explore some practical tips for how to navigate your child’s food allergies at school in this month’s blog. 

Start a plan well before school starts

There are a lot of things you need to do to prepare for your child’s next school year, so don’t wait until the end of summer to start planning. 

You need to bring your child to see us to update any medications or refill any prescriptions. This also gives us a chance to review your child’s anaphylaxis emergency care plan. We provide you with copies of the plan that you can take for both home and school. 

Ordering a medical alert bracelet with your child’s information and medication needs may also be helpful, especially if your child is young. These can take several weeks to arrive, so an early purchase is prudent. 

Make sure you also talk to the school staff that will be with your child each day, including teachers, substitutes, lunchroom monitors, and the school nurse. Review their allergens, symptoms of a reaction, action plans, and where epinephrine will be kept. 

You may also want to discuss how mealtimes and snack times will be handled along with special events like field trips and class parties. 

Prepare for back-to-school

During your child’s back-to-school event, you have a great opportunity to speak with other parents and caretakers about your child’s allergy. Let them know about cross-contamination and inform them of ways they can be aware of your child’s safety, but also provide realistic expectations. You may even want to volunteer to provide food for various events that will be safe for your child to eat. 

In addition to bringing their school supplies, bring all their medications. 

Inform your child on how to stay safe 

Even with the most prepared and cooperative school staff, it’s still most important to educate your child on how to navigate their days at school. These are some of the top things to review with them as they start their school year:

• Know what foods they’re allergic to and what’s safe to eat
• Never accept food from friends 
• Don’t eat anything that hasn’t been pre-approved or prepackaged by you
• Know how to thoroughly wash their hands before and after they eat
• Know how to recognize signs of an allergic reaction

If they ever have questions, make sure they understand that their teachers or school nurse are there for them to offer comfort, help, and support.

To prepare your child for the upcoming school year, schedule an appointment with our team by calling our office at 248-363-3232 or using our online booking feature today.