Accommodating Other Children’s Allergies
June 28, 2007 by kate baggott
Filed under Mental Health
One of the things I dread is that one of the children might have an allergy I don’t know about. Sure, we’ve covered the big things like peanuts, milk and wheat, but I haven’t had either of them tested for an allergy to bee stings or anything like that. It isn’t just the potential of an allergic response that frightens me, although the thought of allergic shock is horrible to contemplate.
I also worry about the response of other parents if I had to ask them to change something to accommodate my children.
It seems that every time a school bans peanuts, for example, in order to protect a child with deathly allergies, a spate of letters to the editor and other public criticisms are made about the injustice of it all. As if, by going without peanut butter in their school lunches, we’re denying children a childhood. As if, killing another person’s child by your lunch choices is just a matter of the luck of the draw.
I’ve encountered allergies several times in my work with children. As a university student working as a summer camp counselor, I’ve carried epi-pens on hikes to deliver a lifesaving jab of adrenaline if the insect repellent were to fail. More common, are interactions with the children who can’t share a snack with their classmates or who have to plan ahead to bring “special food” from home to protect them.
I suppose it is easier for one parent to make special plans for their children, but I still believe that there is room to accommodate everyone in my classroom. It’s not a popular belief in Germany judging from my son’s kindergarten where, when they have pizza for lunch, they can’t even be bothered to make one meatless for the vegetarians who shun all meat and the Muslim children who don’t want to eat pork salami.
Last week, I wanted a child with a wheat allergy to be included in a class celebration. The children had reached the letter Z. They had learned to recognize all the letters and their sounds. I wanted, as is my tradition, to make zookies and ziscuits, the Z-shaped cookies that the children could decorate themselves. So, I asked the boy’s father for a wheat-free cookie recipe.
“You can just use Dinkel,” he said. Dinkel is the German word for spelt, an ancient grain that people with immune system difficulties often eat in place of conventional wheat.
Now, I didn’t make special cookies for one little boy. I made all of the cookies for everyone with spelt flour substituting it for the regular flour in my sugar cookie recipe. It was actually a nice experience as far as inexpert baking goes. The flour is ground a little finer and, perhaps because of the finer grind, didn’t need to be chilled before I rolled it out into Z shapes. Once I put the cookies in the oven, they didn’t change color the way cookies usually do, but I could tell when they were finished baking.
After that, it just got easier. In my class on Tuesday, the boy with the wheat allergy sat down to decorate and eat zookies and ziscuits with everyone else. It was rewarding to watch him dig in without having to worry about where the cookies had come from or what they were made of.
So, what message do I have to give those parents who feel that making a change in their public eating habits for someone else’s child is just too much to ask? Relax. It’s easier than you might think. In my case, it took absolutely no extra effort than that I would normally make.
That is really thoughtful of you, Kate. It does seem easier to bring something that everyone can eat rather than singling someone out for “special” treatment. At our school, Muslim children can’t eat gummy candies so if the birthday child brings that to share, they get a banana. Doesn’t seem particularly fair, does it?
Here in Germany, gummy bears are such a big part of celebrations that there are specialty no-gelatin gummy bears.
(The gelatin is made by boiling down pork by-product).
If you like, I’ll send you some for school celebrations.
I had no idea! I’ll look out for them over here but I’m tempted to give fruit for Stephen’s birthday giveaway. Won’t he be a popular boy! hahaa
I love hearing about what you did to include the child who had food allergies. A lot of the focus is on safety issues but these children are excluded from many celebrations which involve food (almost all of them) and it takes its toll.
Every child wants to be included.
I’m sure it felt so good for the child!
My hat’s off to you!
Take care,
Gina Clowes
http://www.AllergyMoms.com
I wish more parents were as thoughtful and reasonable as you are. It’s amazing how “don’t infringe on MY rights” people can be, as if peanut butter were a right.
I think it’s great that you did what you did. I think it’s great to have times when a child with special needs can be included just like the rest of the kids, but I also think there are some things that the parents are better off handling themselves.
I know I’d feel much better preparing lunch or treats for my own kids if there was any kind of real danger as opposed to someone who might not be as “careful” as I would be.
This is great. The idea that parents get upset and omitting peanuts and what not is so selfish. My children have no allergies but several of my best friends children do. I am more than happy to accommodate their precious children.
What a refreshing article. My son DOES have food allergies. Rather than ask others to accomodate him, I just always supply his food. If it’s a class party, I’ll bake cupcakes or cookies that are safe for him to eat (no milk, eggs, or nuts) but I bring enough for the entire class.
I’m glad to know there are thoughtful teachers out there.
Kudos to you for that!
Bellevelma- I never use nuts when my kids need to take food to share somewhere, but while I was making the cookies, I started to think about how to make them without dairy. In my recipe, I use lemon or orange juice in place of milk, I know I could use margarine instead of butter.
Is there an easy substitute for the egg?
This is really good information to pass on to anyone with wheat allergies. I have a specific friend in mind right now. Thanks.
I’ve been fortunate to not have any problems kids who have allergies. The parents in my community tend to be very supportive.
Hi Kate,
Just stopping by to let you know I’ve blogged about this great article over at AllerJeez.com!
http://allerjeez.com/2007/07/08/allerjeez-blog-carnival-second-edition/
Thanks for participating in my blog carnival!
Rachel
AllerJeez.com