YOUR FOOD ALLERGIC CHILD

TODDLERS Toddlers learn everything very quickly, and it is amazing to see the level of responsibility a two or three year old can accept for her own diet. If a child has had several allergic episodes, she will usually be willing to avoid the things she associates with that discomfort, and some gentle reinforcement by parents will do won¬ders. For example, when the offending food is offered, simply saying "that makes your tummy hurt" or "that makes you wheeze" or "that makes you itch" gives the child a direct association which can easily be remembered between the food and a symptom. At this stage, if the toddler is cared for at home, her opportunities to make dietary mistakes are limited, and most playmates' mothers are willing to make the necessary provisions for snacks. If this is not possible, however, it makes good sense to the toddler to bring her own refreshments. PRESCHOOL AGE When your child is a bit older and actually plays with other children or goes to nursery school, sharing becomes a major theme in his life. Protecting him from the foods to which he is allergic becomes more complicated. Sometimes it is a good idea to prepare a snack for the entire group so that the allergic child does not constantly feel stigmatized. There will still be some rough moments. A lunchbox is a real status symbol for this group, and often several children will bring them to nursery school or to play group. Your child may be the first to actually use the lunchbox for carrying food and a beverage, and may view carrying it as a privilege. It is important that the teacher or day care mother be aware of any dietary limitations and to be able to deal with them without embarrassing the child. A major part of the nursery school curriculum includes experimenting with the five senses, including both taste and smell. If a child is violently allergic to wheat, the teacher must understand that it is not appropriate to allow him to taste salt by licking it from a pretzel simply because the others are eating pretzels. It may help to discuss alternatives with the teacher before a planned activity. Often "sense" themes are carried over into snack time in nursery school, and often create problems. It may be quite difficult for a small child allergic to orange juice to associate it with the "green juice" the teacher made by adding blue food coloring to the juice of an orange for Saint Patrick's day. Both the teacher and parents need to be aware that there is little abstract reasoning at this age. The child will not or can not always stop to evaluate a new situation, and instead relies heavily on the judgment of a trusted adult. There are other situations at nursery school which may pro¬voke food allergy problems. Here is one of the most popular play dough recipes for school use: Generic Play dough 1 cup (wheat) flour 1 cup water 1/2 cup salt Food coloring 2 tablespoons oil Mix dry ingredients. Mix water and coloring. Then add oil and water to dry ingredients and stir over medium heat until stiff. Playing with this medium, assisting in its manufacture, or even being in the room where it is being mixed can cause problems for a wheat allergic child. This problem may be avoided by asking the teacher to use commercially prepared play dough which does not contain wheat or by providing the school with it. If your child can tolerate being in the room with the wheat-based play dough, she can wear size small "rubber" or plastic gloves. These are available at most pharmacies. If the school budget does not allow for the purchase of commercial play dough and you don't want to supply it for your child's class, this formula for hardening play dough is available from Argo...