Peanut Allergy

[Momvic5]

So your solution is for the school to pick and choose which children it is going to help? Banning peanuts only helps the children who are allergic to peanuts. What of the special needs children who rely on peanut butter?. I'm sorry but no matter how you try you cannot "ask them to go without" their favorite lunch. I remember a child who could (and would) completely melt if his lunch was not exactly the same everyday. That child doesn't have the right to be taught? What about the blood sugar issues mentioned here? What about children with sensory issues?

Banning peanuts means taking away a "safe" food in some cases. I agree there needs to be a happy medium, but a ban is not a medium. It is saying my child has more right that your child and that is not fair.

No, I am stating that schools have the ability to help make a difference in some situations.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

In a school setting an adult, especially an adult who knows the child is allergic and what to do isn't going to be right by their side. In the mall a parent or other adult is going to be nearby and isn't going to be distracted by trying to manage a classroom/lunchroom/playground full of other children.
I'm spaking mainly about ele age. The older a child gets, the more likley it is that they will recognize a reaction and be able to act accordingly. The same can be said of their peers.

I agree. So, the solution is to have an adult with the child while at school too. This can be accomplished with little impact to others by providing the young child a para professional trained in allergy recognition.

It is what the others of us do with our children who are also learning to live with life threatening or life changing situations.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

I think you totally misunderstood my post.

I was going to re-explain myself, but I decided against it.

All I can say is ~ we as teachers, parents and students just need to decide what it is we value the most.

No, I didn't misunderstand your post at all.

You feel that your child's allergy is the most important one and that others are basically irrelevant. You just said so by saying that we need to decide what it is we value most. I feel that we should value all children the most.

There are so many kids that are dealing with life threatening situations. These kids are learning to live and deal with their situation without impacting everybody else. There are solutions out there that can happen without banning a particular food that may be crucial to other children.

Peanut free tables, peanut free rooms, have an assigned adult stay with the child and wipe down tables and fountains before the child touches them. Do what you do normally in the real world outside of school. It can be done, really. Many of us with special needs kids have learned to deal with the dangers of the real world.

Banning peanuts during the school day does not make a safer environment for your child. You will always have parents that will thwart the ban. You will have clueless parents that aren't trying to be malicious but just clueless and send in peanut products. You still face all the dangers listed, ie. "water fountains, faucets being touched, etc by children who had peanut butter at breakfast.

If your child is that compromised that he needs immediate access to his epi pen, then you address that situation. You make sure that the child either has it on his person at all times or if too young, an aide is assigned with a fanny pack that keeps the necessary medications.

In fact, having an aide is much better for the child as the aide is constantly teaching the child about his allergy vs. a false sense of security that the cafeteria is peanut free.

Banning peanuts does not make for a safer environment, although it does make a child's special need less conspicuous with his peers.

 

[dreamer17555]

This thread has gotten rather nasty but I feel the need to speak up. I am allergic to peanuts. I also have a son with a deadly allergy to milk and soy and a daughter who is a vegetarian.

Exposure is going to happen. You cannot be certain it is just the school, what about playmates, sports teams, maybe a sibling of a playmate is now going through a peanut butter and jelly phase and then is touching things.

My Daughter feels very, very strongly about vegetarian. Her body needs things like Soy and Peanuts to offset what she is not getting. We are extremely careful but do let her have these things. She is taught to constantly wash her hands to wipe down tables, counters and ever door knobs with lysol wipes and to wrap up the wrapper in a paper towel or plastic bag before throwing it into a trash can that my son cannot get into and I cannot touch.

I had to carry wipes with me at Disney and to be careful with what I eat\ touch and my son will learn to do the same. Your child is different and it is hard but the world cannot change for them.

My DD is a vegetarian. The school offers her no lunch that will meet her needs nor do I expect it to. When my son enters schools I will have hopefully taught him how to look out for his allergy and wouldn't mind if they put him at a milk\soy free table. His world is different, I only care that he is safe.

There is no way to be 100% peanut free, there is no way for the school to be 100% milk\ soy free (and milk can be dangerous even to the touch for him). Like with Bees you can stop them from going outside, you can ban peanuts, milk, soy, ect... but where does it stop? When does it stop?

If push comes to shove I might have to homeschool my son until he is mature enough to handle his own allergy. But either way I plan to prepare him for the path, not the path for him.

-Becca-

 

[Momvic5]

No, I didn't misunderstand your post at all.

You feel that your child's allergy is the most important one and that others are basically irrelevant. You just said so by saying that we need to decide what it is we value most. I feel that we should value all children the most.

There are so many kids that are dealing with life threatening situations. These kids are learning to live and deal with their situation without impacting everybody else. There are solutions out there that can happen without banning a particular food that may be crucial to other children.

Peanut free tables, peanut free rooms, have an assigned adult stay with the child and wipe down tables and fountains before the child touches them. Do what you do normally in the real world outside of school. It can be done, really.

Yes, you did misunderstand. I never stated my DS's allergy was the most important one. You assumed that (amongst other things) and made that your statement.

"All children" are to be valued ~ that is exactly my point. Come on, we are argueing over peanuts. I think it is ridiculous that we give a menu item more regard than a young child.

 

[dreamer17555]

Yes, you did misunderstand. I never stated my DS's allergy was the most important one. You assumed that (amongst other things) and made that your statement.

"All children" are to be valued ~ that is exactly my point. Come on, we are argueing over peanuts. I think it is ridiculous that we give a menu item more regard than a young child.

Okay My son is FATALLY allergic to milk and soy (milk is dangerous even to the touch) shouldn't his allergy be as important as your child's. By that All Children quote shouldn't his school ban milk for him when he enters? And soy too even though its used as a filler in most products? Where do you draw the line?

-Becca-

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Yes, you did misunderstand. I never stated my DS's allergy was the most important one. You assumed that (amongst other things) and made that your statement.

"All children" are to be valued ~ that is exactly my point. Come on, we are argueing over peanuts. I think it is ridiculous that we give a menu item more regard than a young child.

Nope. Did not misunderstand.

It has nothing to do with "just a menu item." It has everything to do with singling out one specific allergy and forcing others to conform their worlds around it. It devalues every other child that also has life threatening conditions and are learning to work their worlds around it. It has to do with convenience for the peanut family rather than finding practical solutions that others are using to learn to deal with their life threatening conditions.

Mind you, I have dealt with the special education system for 21 years until my child graduated from the free and public education allowed by law. I have seen and worked with children much more compromised than a peanut allergy. Not one parent ever even thought about demanding a school wide ban, rather they sought solutions that would be particular to their child.

Come on, we are just arguing about recess or as the above poster said, about milk or soy. It is just one period in school or just a menu item.

How come you have not addressed any of those questions posed to you? You conveniently ignore anybody that questions any other potentially fatal allergy or condition. Remaining silent to repeated questions says way more about how more important you feel your child's condition is over what you actually write.

Exactly what is your solution to a child fatally allergic to milk? Or fatally allergic to any other "just a menu item" or any potentially fatal condition?

Do you feel the same precautions should be extended for her child as you are demanding for your child, that a school should be dairy free? Same fatal issues, same "just a menu item."

Or are peanuts more expendable than milk? Is your child's allergy more relevant than a milk or bee allergy? How about the immune compromised children? Should the school send home anybody with the sniffles?

What objections do you have to having the school assign an aide for your child to help him make decisions about his allergy and to keep his epi pen available for immediate use? What objection do you have to teaching your child to wipe everything down with wipes before they touch it?

I am not dismissing your child's allergy at all. As others have asked, what is your solution on where we draw the line? There are so many life threatening conditions out there, do we ban everything or do we find solutions to the problems?

I haven't seen a single argument yet that shows a peanut ban would actually create a safer environment. What about the child that went to the ball game over the weekend and stuffed the peanuts in her backpack without the parents knowing? You still have children eating peanut products before school and touching door handles, fountains, faucets, desks, tables. There is no way to force parents to comply as it would be cost prohibitive and violate children's privacy by doing a lunch and backpack check of every single student every day.

I have seen plenty of arguments that would make it more convenient, both socially for the child (by not having the stigma of being different or having an aide) and convenient for the parents (not having to make special lunches, snacks etc).

 

[friendofgusgus]

Just wanted to take a time-out to recommend a great children's book about establishing a peanut-free area. It's helpful for both kids who are trying to negotiate where to eat and for parents, since it puts the reader in the role of a child who loves his PB but has a friend at school with a peanut allergy.

The book is The Peanut-Free Cafe by Gloria Koster and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. It's not preachy or too heavy on its message but it is a decent storybook. Your local library should have it. If not, please ask them to add it to their collection - it's a valuable resource.

For us grown-ups, it also shows a possible way to handle peanut-free situations in a school setting. It can also remind us that kids are still struggling with competing wants on a different level than we are as adults. (Heck, some people never learn to do that... )

Okay, taking off my librarian hat now... we now return you to your most recent heated discussion...

 

[sunnyday123]

Yes, you did misunderstand. I never stated my DS's allergy was the most important one. You assumed that (amongst other things) and made that your statement.

"All children" are to be valued ~ that is exactly my point. Come on, we are argueing over peanuts. I think it is ridiculous that we give a menu item more regard than a young child.

You say in your first line that you never assumed your DS's allergy was the most important one, then state it's ridiculous to give a menu item more regard than a young child.

You are simply stating that peanut items should be removed, period. You don't address the issues with removing this one menu item, and you don't address the issue of treating the condition, instead of removing the offending item. How will your DS learn to navigate the outside world if he isn't taught to stay away from peanut items?

I know an alcoholic. The bars and liquor stores didn't go away. He had to learn to stay away from the things that could kill him.

No one is saying your DS's allergy is not important, but what about peanut items that are at childrens homes that they have eat before school? How is that addressed?

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Just wanted to take a time-out to recommend a great children's book about establishing a peanut-free area. It's helpful for both kids who are trying to negotiate where to eat and for parents, since it puts the reader in the role of a child who loves his PB but has a friend at school with a peanut allergy.

The book is The Peanut-Free Cafe by Gloria Koster and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. It's not preachy or too heavy on its message but it is a decent storybook. Your local library should have it. If not, please ask them to add it to their collection - it's a valuable resource.

For us grown-ups, it also shows a possible way to handle peanut-free situations in a school setting. It can also remind us that kids are still struggling with competing wants on a different level than we are as adults. (Heck, some people never learn to do that... )

Okay, taking off my librarian hat now... we now return you to your most recent heated discussion...

That is a great book and a wonderful way to teach children voluntary empathy.

It teaches children that you should do it because it is the right thing to do rather than being forced to do something. It makes the peanut free table a special place rather than a dreaded place.

But the story would be meaningless if the school had a complete peanut ban

 

[Michelle67]

Just wanted to take a time-out to recommend a great children's book about establishing a peanut-free area. It's helpful for both kids who are trying to negotiate where to eat and for parents, since it puts the reader in the role of a child who loves his PB but has a friend at school with a peanut allergy.

The book is The Peanut-Free Cafe by Gloria Koster and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. It's not preachy or too heavy on its message but it is a decent storybook. Your local library should have it. If not, please ask them to add it to their collection - it's a valuable resource.

For us grown-ups, it also shows a possible way to handle peanut-free situations in a school setting. It can also remind us that kids are still struggling with competing wants on a different level than we are as adults. (Heck, some people never learn to do that... )

Okay, taking off my librarian hat now... we now return you to your most recent heated discussion...

I haven't read it, but it sounds great. From your synopsis I gather that the emphasis is on creating a reasonable safety zone, and educating others. I love that. That works. I also loved once seeing a Magic School Bus episode that addressed food allergies. I love that this stuff is getting out into the mainstream consciousness, so much more than it was in the early 90s when my daughter's condition was diagnosed, and light years from what my family dealt with in the 60s with my sister.

One of the neatest things I experienced navigating this whole food allergy experience with my child was watching her Girl Scout troop. The girls were together from Daisies through Juniors. The Daisy year not so much, but by Brownies those little girls had it going on. They not only understood Meg's limits, but proudly taught other children and their parents. I made it clear to the parents that snack time did not have to revolve around my child, and always made sure she had safe snacks at Scouts and school, but the girls were adamant about including my daughter in the communal snack experience, forcing their parents to read labels (or reading themselves) until an acceptable snack was found. We shouldn't underestimate kids. They are capable of understanding this stuff, and often take pride in understanding and acting on what they have learned.

 

[BRDof3]

I haven't discussed his specific test results and the issues of how to deal with a life-threatening allergy, because that wasn't the purpose of the thread.

I wasn't trying to debate the pros and cons of altering the school environment. That debate may have to happen, but for now it would only ingnite some intense and heated discussions that would not do much for the issue itself.

The only thing I asked about was if such a ban had ever been enacted, and if it had, did it have any effect on the affected child's situation. I never placed my son above anyone else, I have been trying to find a way to keep him from eating lunch by himself at an isolated table. My later comments were focused on the attitude of "that doesn't help MY the kid(s), so I won't even consider it."

The discussion hs not been entirely "meaningless" as someone posted earlier. The meaningless content I referred to was arguing about why we don't help that person instead of this one. Overall it has been very educational, not to mention a peak at the possibilities in the future.

 

[Master Mason]

Yes, you did misunderstand. I never stated my DS's allergy was the most important one. You assumed that (amongst other things) and made that your statement.

"All children" are to be valued ~ that is exactly my point. Come on, we are argueing over peanuts. I think it is ridiculous that we give a menu item more regard than a young child.

And your missing the point that it is more than just a menu item to some kids.

 

[BRDof3]

And your missing the point that it is more than just a menu item to some kids.

I don't think they were missing the point. They were sayig that there is a major difference between someone's preference (no matter how much they are attached to it) and someone else's absolute need. Being picky is your choice. Being allergic isn't, and the consequences are dire.

 

[sunnyday123]

I don't think they were missing the point. They were sayig that there is a major difference between someone's preference (no matter how much they are attached to it) and someone else's absolute need. Being picky is your choice. Being allergic isn't, and the consequences are dire.

Sometimes being picky isn't a choice. I have a friend who has an autistic son. He will ONLY eat pb&j for lunch. Period.

And if a child is picky and will only eat something ( because there are more allergies than just pb) that someone may be allergic to, then that child should go hungry? Have you ever tried to force a child to eat something they didn't want??
This is about teaching a child what they can and can't have, and how to be safe in the world. I would be more worried that my child didn't know about foods that could make her sick than what Jim-Bob next to her was eating.

 

[hentob]

Peanuts are easy to lose and would never be missed at school.

Says who?

Again-What if a child has peanut butter for breakfast and doesn't wash their hands and comes in contact with your child?

 

[sunnyday123]

Says who?

Again-What if a child has peanut butter for breakfast and doesn't wash their hands and comes in contact with your child?

that question and scenario has been posted time and again and never answered. Seems to be a "my way or the highway" mentality going on about this whole discussion.

 

[RvUsa]

Rob, I think that I can sum this whole argument with 2 points...

1. My kid is picky and I not going to force him to eat something else....

2. My kid is allergic to peanuts and if he touches one he may die....


Sounds like a pretty one sided argument to me!

Rob, get the info you need to educate the ignorant, and do your best to keep your baby safe, that is the most important thing! There are way too many people on here, and in real life, that will argue anything for the sake of the argument. LOL Don't let it get to you man. We are behind ya all the way

 

[chisnpeke]

that question and scenario has been posted time and again and never answered. Seems to be a "my way or the highway" mentality going on about this whole discussion.

Yep. It's an entitlement attitude.

 

[dreamer17555]

I don't think they were missing the point. They were sayig that there is a major difference between someone's preference (no matter how much they are attached to it) and someone else's absolute need. Being picky is your choice. Being allergic isn't, and the consequences are dire.

Okay so in my son's case (Fatal Allergy to Milk) I am assuming that you would support the whole school going Dairy Free? After all it isn't his choice and not his fault that dairy is in so much...

If that is going too far but banning peanuts isn't I would get rather angry, just because there seems to be more knowledge about peanut allergies doesn't mean my son's allergy is less important.

Like I said before I don't agree with bans but for those who do I would hope that if someone wants to ban Dairy you would support that like you support banning peanuts.

-Becca-