Living Teal
Valentine's Day in the Classroom
5 tips to help your children stay safe and learn how to be good friends to classmates with food allergies during this fun holiday.
Five Tips for Parents
Each year on February 14, friends and loved ones share cards, candy, gifts and flowers with their favorite Valentines. Holidays like Valentine’s Day can create heightened risk for exposure to food allergens, especially for children participating in classroom activities, and this added stress can make it hard for families managing food allergies to enjoy the celebration. FARE wants to help you and your child stay safe this Valentine’s Day with these 5 simple tips.
- Prepare ahead of time. Talk to your child’s teacher and classmates about the importance of having a celebration that ensures the safety and inclusion of all students, including those with food allergies.
- Practice with your child to come up with phrases they are comfortable using to politely decline unsafe treats.
- If giving out treats to classmates and friends, consider giving out non-food treats or candies that are free from the top 9 allergens, such as hard candies and lollipops free from milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame.
- Check the label. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to teach adults and kids in the class about food labels and how to read them. Reemphasize to children that sweets shouldn’t be eaten unless a trusted adult has read the label and said it’s ok.
- Hand out Valentines to classmates. Valentine exchanges are a great way to show classmates and friends you care about them with a fun card. Download FARE’s free printable Valentine’s cards to let them know you “teal-y” like them!