Peanut free classroom this year...

[I_Know_You2!]

My son wouldn't be able to attend a full day school if he wasn't able to bring peanuts and peanut butter. He lives off of PBJ's and trail mix most days LOL. There are days when he doesn't eat anything else. Our school has 1 table in the cafeteria that is peanut free and those kids sit there.

Well, that's healthy.

 

[brymolmom]

My son wouldn't be able to attend a full day school if he wasn't able to bring peanuts and peanut butter. He lives off of PBJ's and trail mix most days LOL. There are days when he doesn't eat anything else. Our school has 1 table in the cafeteria that is peanut free and those kids sit there.

Even though many of us with picky eaters think this way, it is really not true(guessing you were joking). There are ALWAYS other things the kids will eat - if they are hungry enough. Honestly at the young ages a bag full of crackers and a bag full of grapes or other fruit would be plenty to fill up a child until the end of the school day. Then he could have his PB&J when he returns home.

My dd is very picky and a pb&j eater...but I have been searching for alternatives for awhile just in case her school became peanut free (it is NOT peanut free at this time). I'm sure we would survive where the child with the allergy might not with the alternative....

That being said - I would have a real problem with my kids being sequestered to their room for lunch every day. One of the reasons I don't homeschool is for the social interaction my kids get and the lunchroom is a huge part of that. I would insist that the school handle it another way (maybe nut free school or allowing the allergic child plus friends a 'special' place to sit, etc.).

 

[imthatgirl]

It isn't that rare (though nuts are far more common), I have a girlfriend whose son is fatally allergic to dairy - this is not lactose intolerance, this is "touch cheese and die." Its really easy to do google searches on this for medical literature. But soy, wheat, corn and dairy can all cause shock reactions - as can strawberries, shellfish, etc........

Here is a non-medical literature cite http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/502.html:

Symptoms of Dairy Allergies

Milk allergy can be manifested as asthma, eczema (an itchy rash), rhinitis (inflamed nose), and gastrointestinal distress, as well as bleeding, pneumonia, and even anaphylaxis (shock). Every parent should be alert for signs of milk allergy.

the problem arises when its an airborn allergyn. im sorry but milk is not airborn. all the kid has to do is not drink the milk to not have a problem. not so with a peanut allergy.
your link went no where, so i dont know what point you were trying to make.

 

[crisi]

Powered milk gets airborne very easily and is in most bakery mixes - which is far more airborne than peanut butter - the common cited reason to keep peanuts out of school. (Shelled peanuts are terrible for kids with allergies in their ability to get airborne - peanut butter, not so much).

 

[PollyannaMom]

We have a peanut free table in our cafeteria where kids who are allergic to peanuts can sit. Their friends (even those without peanut allergies) are allowed to join them at this table as long as they don't bring any peanut products. This table gets wiped down after every class. It seems to have worked for our school for several years now.

We have this as well, and at least one student from the allergic student's class is designated his "buddy" each day and sits with him. They make sure it someone who is buying school lunch that day, so there is no question about cross-contamination. DS (not allergic) sits with his friend (allergic) a couple of times a week.

If the child in the original post absolutely cannot be in the cafeteria room, I do like the idea of special treats for the class. Maybe community volunteers could come in and read to the kids during lunch sometimes - a firefighter, a policeman, etc.

And OP, maybe the teacher could give special permission for your child to actually go to lunch WITH his older siblings' class once as a treat. (They might need him to stop by the office after to make sure he hadn't sat in someones dripped peanut butter or something! - but I'm sure he wouldn't mind, and it might satisfy the expectation he had of seeing the twins at lunch.)

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

In schools with a 'peanut-free' policy, do they police the kids as they come in in the morning? How many of those kids have had peanut butter for breakfast, got a bit on their shirts, under their nails, etc, do they call the parents to bring in a change of clothing?

This is a great point, and no, there is no policing done at our peanut-free school. One of my friends is one of the kindergarten teachers, and she won't have peanut butter at home for breakfast on school days (or let her kids have it) because she is afraid she might hug a child who might react to trace amounts of peanut butter. We have one child in kindergarten with a peanut allergy this year, but it is not life-threatening. He can sit next to a child eating peanut butter and be fine. But some years we have kids with the life-threatening allergies.

 

[imthatgirl]

Powered milk gets airborne very easily and is in most bakery mixes - which is far more airborne than peanut butter - the common cited reason to keep peanuts out of school. (Shelled peanuts are terrible for kids with allergies in their ability to get airborne - peanut butter, not so much).

youre reaching.
im sure if it were a problem or has ever been a problem then the schools would address it. because its never been addressed it seems it has yet to be a problem.
where as peanut butter has been a severe problem for amny children, which is why thats been addressed.

i dont understand why you are argueing a mute point?

 

[I_Know_You2!]

youre reaching.
im sure if it were a problem or has ever been a problem then the schools would address it. because its never been addressed it seems it has yet to be a problem.
where as peanut butter has been a severe problem for amny children, which is why thats been addressed.

i dont understand why you are argueing a mute point?

That would be "moot."

 

[pfp258]

And when we leave school do we make the workplace peanut free? How about the grocery stores and restaurants children visit? In other words unless we make the world peanut free so that we can't contaminate anyone does it really make sense to make a whole school peanut free?
Our schools make a peanut free table available to those with peanut allergies.
I will share this with you... when my daughter was in third grade she had a child that was allergic to peanuts in her class. (Actually she had two girls with the allergy) The one child had a mom that made her so worried and paranoid that she would come into contact with peanuts that she had trouble focusing on little else then her peanut allergy. My daughter liked this girls (she was in our Girl Scout troop, on her soccer team etc.) but in about the middle of the year my daughter started exhibiting some strange behavior, obsessive hand washing, not sleeping at night. When we talked about it she told me she was worried that she might kill this friend because my daughter eats peanut butter and foods that contain peanuts. Seems like this girl told my daughter (and others) that she could die if they had peanut butter and touched a ball they were playing two square with or if they touched the monkey bars and then she were to use them.
Well enough of that! WHen your daughters peanut allergies start to impact my childs life in such a way that she thinks she is going to be responsible for someone's else death...that is just over the top!!
A few years later when the girls were in fifth grade they had to write a paper about themselves. The papers were placed outside in the hallway for the parents to read at a school event. Our school Principal took the peanut allergy mom aside and asked her to read her daughters. The girl had written a paper about her peanut allergy and how it made her different from the others. The other children had all written about their families, sports and teams they were on, friends they had, trips they had taken etc. Our Principal summed it up perfectly when she said "your daughter has so many strengths in so many areas, I'm sad that she defines herself only as the girl that has a peanut allergy." Seems the moms focus on that for so many years made the girl unaware that she was someone else besides the girl with the peanut allergy.

 

[I_Know_You2!]

BTW, OP, I agree. I wouldn't want my K student to be in the classroom all day long. They do need to move, and clear their heads, just like adults.

 

[J'aime Paris]

We have a peanut free table in our cafeteria where kids who are allergic to peanuts can sit. Their friends (even those without peanut allergies) are allowed to join them at this table as long as they don't bring any peanut products. This table gets wiped down after every class. It seems to have worked for our school for several years now.

This is exactly what our school does.

 

[Vickie46]

wow.. I feel so bad for those kids.. but I know a lot kids who will only eat pbj for lunch.. so I don't know what the answer would be at our school.. the cafe even has pbj day..

 

[mom2aredhead]

Here's our school's policy

"...Discontinuing the service of foods containing a specific ingredient, such as peanuts, would not eliminate the possibility of student exposure to that ingredient. Items that do not contain peanuts in any form may be produced in manufacturing plants that also produce peanut products, often on the same production line. Despite careful review of ingredient statements there is no guarantee that a product not labeled as containing peanuts does not indeed include this ingredient which may have been introduced as a “like” substitute for an approved ingredient or included in error by the manufacturer. In addition, this does not address the issue of students bringing peanut-containing items from home.
It is not possible to establish and maintain a “peanut-free environment” in the cafeteria. As such, parents with concerns regarding special needs may be well advised to consult with their medical professionals, the school administration and the on-site health care professional, such as the school nurse, to ascertain the best course of action for their children and to assist the students in making appropriate choices. Monthly menus are posted in each cafeteria and can also be accessed on this website..."

While I understand the severity of these allergies, they need to be dealt with in an individual manner. Some kids may be airborne allergic, some only when they ingest the allergen, some severe, some mild...I don't agree with making the school responsible for removing all possible allergens from all sources that enter the school. To me, there's a difference between making a necessary accommodation (like a peanut free table which is cleaned/maintained) and making a wholesale change to accommodate what amounts to about one percent of the population.

I'm glad this is the policy they have.

 

[happymommy]

it is extremely rare, ive never even seena documented case, of milk, wheat or soy causing anaphylactic shock. i would assume if a child had such a severe reaction to milk they would allert the school. but again, its not a common problem. i even took the time to look it up and found nothing on it.
a peanut allergy is the cause of anaphalxis in millions of people. so it makes sense that a school would choose to be peanut free.

Actually my son has had anaphylactic reaction to milk twice.

He also used to be touch allergic - if there was any milk or dairy in the vicinity of him, he would hive up. Every time we went to a friend's house when he was young, he needed benedryl that day. It's called touch hypersensitivity. This is very common.

More kids are allergic to milk and eggs than anything else, and it is very common to have anaphylaxis to egg.

My son's doctor, Robert Wood, wrote an excellent book "Food Allergies for Dummies". Sounds silly, but it's full of great information. He is actually peanut allergic himself. He's the head of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Johns Hopkins. We've been my son's doctor for about 10 years.

I just feel that offering a "peanut free" school could give parents a false sense of security. You have to be very careful, and never trust anything made by someone else!

I do LOVE the idea of having the kids bring pencils or stuff rather than sweet treats for parties!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My son is in a peanut free classroom for the first time this year. He is in 3rd grade. Everyone who enters the class has to wash their hands first. They do this in the morning and everytime they come back from lunch, recess, or anything else. Lunch bags are kept in lockers in the hall and they may have peanuts in them. The kids eat in the cafeteria, but they have 1 table that is peanut free. We have a list of acceptable store bought birthday treats. I like the idea of pencils instead of treats for birthdays anyways. I think that is what we will do. The teacher provides an afternoon snack in the classroom each day.

I don't mind all the hand washing. I am nervous about my son maybe having peanut butter on his clothes, so we don't eat it for breakfast. I doubt all the parents do that.

 

[I_Know_You2!]

3rd graders have an afternoon snack?

 

[imthatgirl]

Actually my son has had anaphylactic reaction to milk twice.

He also used to be touch allergic - if there was any milk or dairy in the vicinity of him, he would hive up. Every time we went to a friend's house when he was young, he needed benedryl that day. It's called touch hypersensitivity. This is very common.

More kids are allergic to milk and eggs than anything else, and it is very common to have anaphylaxis to egg.

My son's doctor, Robert Wood, wrote an excellent book "Food Allergies for Dummies". Sounds silly, but it's full of great information. He is actually peanut allergic himself. He's the head of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Johns Hopkins. We've been my son's doctor for about 10 years.

I just feel that offering a "peanut free" school could give parents a false sense of security. You have to be very careful, and never trust anything made by someone else!

I do LOVE the idea of having the kids bring pencils or stuff rather than sweet treats for parties!

right, and like ive said its very rare to go into anaphylactic shock from airborn milk. theres a big difference between breaking out into hives and needing an epi pen to save your life. which is why they dont have dairy free schools.
im sure if it were a problem they would address it. as of now i havent heard of any child not being able to go to school because of a milk sensitivity.
i agree that maybe some parents do have a false sense od security. but i think if it means your childs life every little bit helps. so if your child is severely ellergic, they need to have that epi pen on them. unfortunately thats another battle. most schools dont allow children to carry them. which is probably why they have these peanut free areas. because they dont want to be liable for 5yo with an epi pen,

 

[Mickeypooh99]

3rd graders have an afternoon snack?

They do still have afternoon snack. I'm not sure what grade they stop that. So far they have had graham crackers each day. The teacher told me I could send in fresh fruit if I want to. I don't think we ever had snack time at school when I was a kid.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I love your sarcastic attitude. At home, my son eats pretty much anything.... at school he only wants PBJ. Im more concerned for him than other peoples kids. My family shouldnt have to change for someone else. The kids need to be taught how to deal.

 

[brymolmom]

Threads like this can take all the guesswork out of where so many kids these days get their 'ME! ME! ME!' attitude.