OT preschool snack help

[Ilovemyprincesses]

If I was being selfish and all of the other lovely things you described me as being I would bring the cheese sticks my 3 yr old wants to bring and say too bad. I tried and what did I get for it? Clearly I can't win and now I am sooo sorry I tried. I think I will tell the teacher his mother can take my snack spot and worry about it. I love how everything turns into a train wreck around here. If you don't agree with the majority you are not entitled to any opinion at all.

 

[labst60]

Ilovemyprincess-
I agree w/ you 100%. I have no doubt it is difficult to the parent of a child with severve food allergies, but sometimes these situations can get out of control. I realize no one wants to make the allergic child feel "different" in that he/she can't have what the other kids have, but the reality is, in these severe cases, they are different - not because anyone is mean or cruel, but that is just how it is. If my preschooler had allergies so severe that I needed to limit what 3 classes could consume during snack for an entire year, I would without a doubt homeschool because I would think the risk too my child would be just too large that a child would come in with peanut butter fingers from ritz bitz in the car or somthing similar. If the allergy is really that severe (and I understand in some cases they are) the benefits of the socialization / preschool education would not outweigh the risks of severe allergic reaction.

Kudos to you for TRYING to come up with a new snack for the class that fits this child's dietary requirements.

 

[kc10family]

While I am sorry for your frustration over your snack choices, I can't be too sympathetic to your anger.

I'm not sure how often you have to bring snack, but it can't compare to the anguish parents like myself go through on a daily basis to find three meals a day plus snacks plus desserts that are safe for our children.

This mother, not the school, is the most informed person about what is safe for her child. Who else but her should be deciding what this child eats?

While it's easy to say that she should be bringing snack for her child (I do this for my DD) it is also unsafe for other children to be eating foods that this child is allergic to. The proteins from any dairy or peanut containing foods can be inadvertantly wiped onto toys, books, etc. in the classroom that this child can then touch and react to. That is a very dangerous situation. (We try and remedy this problem in my DD's class by wiping every child's hands after snack, but my child has a minor allergy. This may not work for in this situation.)

What this mom is doing, while occasionally inconvenient to you, is keeping her child from DYING! Isn't that worth a little extra effort of families in the three classes? Wouldn't you want everyone to do all they could for your child if the roles were reversed?

Children, especially those at the age I'm guessing these children to be, are creatures of habit and often ENJOY eating the same foods daily. I wouldn't worry about that.

I do encourage you to speak to the mom for any suggestions. I KNOW she has thought a lot about it, just as you have.

Fresh fruit sounds like a great idea. It's healthy for all (except my DD who's allergic to melons) and there are a variety of fruits from which to choose.

I understand what you are saying, but I do not agree with all you have to say.

I do not know if the kids have lunch at school or interact with those who have lunch at school. If they do either of these then they COULD have food parts on them, the clothing and or anything they touch.
Along with this if for some reason a child did not wash before going to school they could have food parts on clothing, backpacks, shoes etc and they could touch toys or books.
This is not easy however... a good compromise should be made between everyone.
I for one ensure I bring something different for the child that can't eat what I bring.
The child may have these issue all his life and may need to understand (sad as it is) that he may have to sit at a different table or chair during snack and lunch. It is his safety and it sucks, but others should not have to set aside PB&J because of him. Now that does not mean that they should not clean everything very well after they eat, but they should have rights just as he does.

I do not think we should abuse someone for asking a question and venting about such a thing. I think we need to share and assist. JMO

 

[camouseketeer]

I do not know if the kids have lunch at school or interact with those who have lunch at school. If they do either of these then they COULD have food parts on them, the clothing and or anything they touch.
Along with this if for some reason a child did not wash before going to school they could have food parts on clothing, backpacks, shoes etc and they could touch toys or books.

This is very true. To combat this, all children's hands are wiped down each and every time (morning, after recess, snack, etc.) they enter the classroom. That cannot eliminate all cross contamination, but it can reduce it dramatically.

The child may have these issue all his life and may need to understand (sad as it is) that he may have to sit at a different table or chair during snack and lunch. It is his safety and it sucks.

You are also very correct about this. I appreciate your empathy toward the situation. You focus on the child not the food. This was something I did not hear from the OP.

 

[belle&beast]

I just wanted to jump in and say that I work in a peanut-free preschool and my children attend a different preschool. I applaud the OP for trying to find an alternative snack. I work in a public school setting, so the snack is provided by the school. There is very little variety and at times the teachers feel like it is boring. However, the children never complain and look forward to the familiar snacks. Just thought I would let you know that from an adult's perspective in preschool, the kids enjoy snack- whatever it may be.