I'm not sure how many children with food allergies you encounter in your daily life, playgroup, pre-school etc. but it probably hasn't escaped your notice that numbers on are on the rise.
Although I was aware of kids with food allergies when I was working as a teacher, it never really hit my 'radar' until I had a child of my own and she was diagnosed with milk allergy as a newborn. It was quite a bolt from the blue, I can tell you!
My daughter eventually grew out of her allergy (fortunately many do) but it was an incredibly isolating experience in many ways, as it made going out and about so much more difficult. As a result, it has made me determined that at our playgroup, those with food allergies can come and feel welcome. Although it may not always prove possible, we do our best to include them in whatever way we can.
If you would like to do the same, here's just a few pointers to think about:
1. Registration
We register all children when they come to our group for the first time. The registration form includes a section on allergies, so we can identify who may be at risk. At this point we try to fit in a chat about the severity of the allergy and what we can/cannot provide. We cannot guarantee 100% safety, but we will do our best. We never turn anyone away, it is always up to the parent to make the risk assessment for themselves.
2. Catering for all
a) Our catering team have a checklist of which children have allergies and what they are. We communicate with them about which children are present that session.
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| Our chart just shows the allergens present in our group |
b) Our catering team have clear instructions about procedures (see picture above). The important thing is to avoid what's called 'cross-contamination' of food.
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| Orgran are usually a 'safe' bet |
c) We usually provide healthy snacks for the children involving fruit/veg. and rice cakes/bread sticks, but we also have a few treats in the cupboard like these. *Orgran are a great company for producing allergy alternatives. If not available at a store near you, they can be purchased online.
d) Some nurseries and pre-schools use separate coloured bowls for children with food allergies. We prefer to label the bowl, if necessary, but usually it's not, as we only usually have a few each session, so we can easily keep tabs.
3. Separate activities and food
We try to avoid having drinks or food in the main play and craft area. This also helps with clearing up afterwards and reduces some risk of accidents with hot drinks.
We do this by having a separate room for coffee/snack time, immediately followed by singing (whilst we have everyone seated) this allows time for everyone to finish.
A separate area for food/drink also helps any parents who would prefer to avoid this part of the session. We have only had one do this regularly and one of our volunteers usually takes her out a drink and chats with her, whilst the singing takes place.
4. Keep clean
a) A quick visual inspection (as you are setting up) is vital for safety anyway, especially if, like us, you share the use of a hall, so keep an eye out for any traces of food/drink as you do so.
b) We try to ensure baby wipes are always on hand for any sticky fingers! This way we can try to avoid traces of food transferring via toys and helps keep the toys cleaner too!
c) Regular toy cleaning sessions help too and not just for food allergies, but for general hygiene. We try to avoid buying/accepting (people always try to pass on toys) which cannot be washed easily. Toys that can go through a dishwasher are the best!
d) Clear up any spillages as soon as possible, which makes sense in terms of safety too!
5. Food Free Craft/Activities
a) We avoid doing activities involving food, unless they can be made suitable for all. Particularly be aware of any that involve cereal, or bird seed, especially regarding children with nut allergies. There are so many fun crafts and activities out there, so there is really no need to include food!
b) Check materials, when purchasing e.g. paint, chalk, play dough, to make sure there are no hidden allergens!
6. Food Free Prizes
We try to avoid giving out food/sweets as prizes, which in this day and age is probably for the best anyway. When giving out sweets for special occasions e.g. Easter we try to give them all the same. *Haribo have always been great for us, so far. At Easter they do multi packs containing Easter sweets, which is what we use!
8. Communicate!
Keep the channels of communication flowing between you and the parent. It helps build relationship and trust on all sides and not just in relation to food allergies. Sometimes our Mums just need to talk to a fellow human being.
8. First Aid
A number of our staff (all volunteers) are trained in first aid, including with use of an Epi pen, but thankfully, we've never had to use one yet!
May be it's just because I'm so used to it, but I don't think including children with food allergies is that difficult. We've had a number that have been regulars over the years, without any incident. You may have noticed that most of these tips are just good practice anyway, in keeping safe and clean. So let's be welcoming and inclusive and let ALL the little children play!
*Just to be clear: we are not affiliated with any of the companies listed. Any products recommended are purely to assist in sourcing.
