Food allergies at school

[livndisney]

I am so frustrated right now. My DD has food allergies. They are noted on all the forms at school. Last week the school sent home a note advising the children would be doing a "holidays around the world" with food from various countries. I emailed her teacher to ask for more info. No answer, so I went and spoke with her teacher. Since the children would be going to different classrooms, she did not know what the other teachers were doing. I reminded her teacher of my DD's food allergies. Since I was not able to find out what foods would be offered, I asked that my child not be given anything. And I would send in a snack with her everyday. Then I sent in a reminder note to her teacher that said basically "Please do not feed my child". This afternoon she came home and told me she ate "something". But doesn't know what it was. So I called the school. The teachers had gone home and the principal had no idea. And did not seem at all concerned. She said "if I hear from one of the teachers, I will have them call you"

I have spoken to my child and explained again, that she is not to eat anything I don't give her. But shouldn't the school be "helping" out a little here? When I was teaching, I was aware of any child with allergies and make accomodations. If a parent had sent me a note that said "do not feed", I would not have given that child any food.

Any suggestions on how to better handle this?

 

[Talking Hands]

I am so frustrated right now. My DD has food allergies. They are noted on all the forms at school. Last week the school sent home a note advising the children would be doing a "holidays around the world" with food from various countries. I emailed her teacher to ask for more info. No answer, so I went and spoke with her teacher. Since the children would be going to different classrooms, she did not know what the other teachers were doing. I reminded her teacher of my DD's food allergies. Since I was not able to find out what foods would be offered, I asked that my child not be given anything. And I would send in a snack with her everyday. Then I sent in a reminder note to her teacher that said basically "Please do not feed my child". This afternoon she came home and told me she ate "something". But doesn't know what it was. So I called the school. The teachers had gone home and the principal had no idea. And did not seem at all concerned. She said "if I hear from one of the teachers, I will have them call you"

I have spoken to my child and explained again, that she is not to eat anything I don't give her. But shouldn't the school be "helping" out a little here? When I was teaching, I was aware of any child with allergies and make accomodations. If a parent had sent me a note that said "do not feed", I would not have given that child any food.

Any suggestions on how to better handle this?

Keep here home. Depending on how the food is served it is impossible with todays large classes to monitor a child all the time. Find out what time the activity is planned for and take her home before it starts. THat is the only way to be absolutely sure she doesn't get anything.

 

[mechurchlady]

Take the kid out of school for one day then go to the principal and explain to him what can happen if your kid goes into shock and you have to sue the school board. The idea of a sick kid or the loss of money usually works. Since they do not understand that your kid cannot eat certain food then you will have to keep you kid out of school or go with her to school. Also contact the school board.

You do have to understand that there are a lot of people who cannot grasp the fact that a tiny grain of wheat hurts my stomach or that a person merely touching peanuts and shellfish can die. There are people cannot fathom the fact that people can get deathly ill for days over a drop of allergen. They do not understand that picking out the croutons in a salad, scraping the coating off of bread food or picking the nuts off of a donut will not make the allergen go away. It is a war that people with allergies fight daily. It is a constant battle to get people to stop thinking the old way and to see things from our viewpoint.

I fight telling the waitress to take back the wrapped harmless crackers because that is her habit of bringing cracker with soup and salad. They fight the old habits of picking out what a guest did not want in a salad. They know now to serve food a certain way but sometimes it still happens. I feel for you and hope the school gets this worked out. Stand firm and educate them on allergies. I do not understand how someone could violate a parent's wishes especially something health related. sigh

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I think I would ask to meet with the principal and teacher together. Explain to them again about your daughter's allergies and express your disappointment that your "do not feed" note was not honored. Ask how they suggest dealing with these situations in the future.

Is it possible for you to attend these kind of events with your daughter? Maybe go in as a parent volunteer but also monitor what she's doing or eating? I have done this frequently with my son (he has Asperger's Syndrome). There have been a few times where I was concerned with how he would handle a particular field trip or other activity. I will usually volunteer to chaperone the trip or help out at the event so I can be there with him.

I also work in a special ed preschool classroom. We have had kids with food allergies and others on special diets (gluten-free, for example). Last week, a mom brought in lunch for her son's birthday. We told her right away not to give any food to the child on the gluten-free diet. We even put him at a different table with his own snack and an adult sat with him to keep him occupied. He didn't even notice that the other kids were eating different food. I think it's the responsibility of the school personnel to uphold whatever diet the parent dictates, especially when allergies are involved!

 

[pcparamedics01]

I would have a meeting. There are children that can die from a peanut allergy etc. We are all too cautious in my children's school. If there is an allergy it has to be posted at the front door of your child's school and in the cafeteria as well. We are not allowed anymore to bring in cupcakes for our child's Birthday Party!!!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Pcparamedics, I hope they post it as general (i.e. "This is a peanut-free school"/"Peanuts not allowed on campus") and not with the child's name attached (i.e. "X child has a peanut allergy"/"Child in X classroom has a peanut allergy")!