Kids Allergy Program - Part 3

My Food Allergy Friends makes it simple to start a conversation about food allergies with your child with our Online Kids Allergy Program - Part 3 - Starting School.

We understand the challenges of bringing up a child with life-threatening allergies and we are here to help. Starting school is a big step for any child. Add food allergies to the mix, and it can make parents feel extremely anxious.

It’s vital that your child understands what having food allergies means and is confident at each development stage in their journey. We have you covered with our children’s book series and education resources. Learning about allergies needs to be fun, engage children, and get them involved in becoming Food Allergy SMART.

The first thing to remember is that starting school is a massive step for any child, regardless of whether they have allergies or not. You want to celebrate your child starting school. It’s an exciting time for everyone. So however anxious you are feeling, try very hard not to show it as it will rub off on your child.

Here are some common concerns from parents.

"I'm afraid of my child starting school, will they be able to speak up?"

"I'm not 100% sure if they will refuse food, I think they would but with peer pressure?'

"What if they get bullied or excluded because they have allergies?"

"In a large playground with all my child's allergens around, I'm afraid for my child"

"Should I just home school?"

As well as working with your chosen school, you need to work with your child to prepare them for a new environment and new challenges that lie ahead. This means educating them about their allergies which hopefully you’ve been doing anyway.

Join Thai on his adventures, part 3 includes the third book in the allergy series. It's a fun story, showing how to handle food allergies at school.

Your child can listen to the video book again and again. Then you can use our parent resource sheets to help further discussions with your child as well as using all the teaching activities to help prepare your child for school!

Part 3 covers four main areas:

• Learn about your medicine
• How to keep yourself safe at school
• Recognising an allergic reaction
• School scenarios

What children are learning

• How to prepare for school when you have allergies
• How to keep yourself safe at school
• Ways to become Food Allergy Smart
• Teaching friends about allergies
• Food allergies don't stop you having fun
• The importance of carrying your EpiPens with you
• Other peoples food can make us sick
• Why you must speak up if you feel unwell
• How your friends and teachers can keep you safe at school
• Helps develop skills to handle social situations
• Builds confidence in children to manage their allergies

The loveable book character Thai is a highly relatable little boy. He has severe allergies to tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, and milk. Thai’s positive attitude shows other children how food allergies don’t have to stop you from joining in and having fun. Thai is confident and educates his friends, family, and classmates on the importance of not sharing food and drinks, and hand-washing with soap and water after eating.

With the quirky Rabbie by Thai’s side, follow them in their adventures as they help to educate children around the world about food allergies.

Here is why it's vital to teach allergy awareness to your child...

• Normalises allergies
• Creates food allergy awareness and understanding
• Creates a safer environment and keeps them safe
• Your child will learn how to recognise an allergic reaction and know how to get help
• Learning about allergies will keep them safe and could save their life
• Helps your child to develop skills to handle social situations and peer pressure