Kristin Beltaos. Kristin Beltaos 2/4/14. Kristin Beltaos, M.A. Consultant, A Gift of Miles. Markets: Stress, Food Allergies, Reproductive Challenges

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1 2/4/14 Food Allergies & Inclusiveness: Make It Happen Minnesota AEYC-SACA Annual State Conference Kristin Beltaos, M.A. Kristin Beltaos Consultant, A Gift of Miles Markets: Stress, Food Allergies, Reproductive Challenges Licensed Trainer, Minnesota Center for Professional Development Online Instructor, Eager to Learn Member of Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota s Speakers Bureau Kristin Beltaos Firstborn Son Allergies: Milk (touch & ingestion), Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts & Sesame Asthma Seasonal Allergies Acid Reflux Second Son Soy allergy for his first 6 months of life 1

2 Food Allergies & Inclusiveness From the Mouths of Babes Quick Statistics 3 million under 18 are diagnosed with food allergies Every 3 minutes an emergency room visit is allergy related 20% of allergic reactions among children with food allergies happen at school Approximately 60,000 MN students have food allergies, considered conservative 2

3 Quick Thoughts Food Allergies should always be taken seriously We need to be careful, but inclusive Food allergic kiddos & families live every single day trying to strike a balance between protection & living life Accept & take responsibility that when we exclude, it is our choice to do so Exclusion Happens Everyday in Schools Gingerbread House Peanut Butter Egg Toss, Physics experiment Composting Projects Planting Units Macaroni Art Peanut Butter Bird Feeders Exclusion Happens Everyday in Schools, 2 Service Projects Pancake Breakfasts, served by teachers Movie Night at School Classroom Snack Time: Food allergic child was told to eat a snack in the hallway outside of the classroom 3

4 2/4/14 Sharing Stories Curriculum Lunch Room Celebrations Bullying Curriculum Gingerbread House Annual Kindergarten Project Ingredients Washed milk cartons, house foundation Graham crackers hot-glued to milk carton Parents make an egg white-based frosting Candies of all kinds for decoration Separate fa kids at the end of the table or at another table 4

5 Curriculum What s wrong with this project? -- EVERYTHING Washed milk carton Graham Crackers Egg frosting -- mixed message to parents Candies -- ingredients and manufacturing Isolate the food allergic children Exclusionary Promotes Isolation Catalyst for Teasing & Bullying How was this Gingerbread Project made safe for everyone? How It All Went Down 15 Cups of allergy safe frosting for the a.m. & p.m. classes All candy was reviewed for ingredients & manufacturing practices Safe food was utilized Craft Items: pom poms, colored paper clips, cotton balls, beads, sequins, glitter, etc. 5

6 It worked out...but What s the Takeaway? Food allergic children were worried Parents of food allergic children didn t feel their child s allergy was taken seriously School did not consider the risk & liability they were undertaking School did not consider the safety or the psychosocial health of food allergic children Yes it was the tradition, but we need to be open to inclusiveness & the establishment of new traditions Reevaluate Activities and projects need to be safe & memory making for all Evaluate curriculum, activities & seasonal projects to determine how to keep the integrity of the learning or socializing experience, but remove the food Consider the message that we send children about food? Is food the ONLY way we Socialize, Celebrate, Incentivize, Reward & Craft? Examine the message that we send children about isolating or segregating others How much more planning does it take? These Gingerbread House craft ideas took less than 10 minutes to find on Pinterest. 6

7 2/4/14 Lunch Room 7

8 2/4/14 Peanut-Free Table Isolates fa kiddos; not their choice to have a fa -it s biological; it s genetic FA child sits away from friends on a daily basis Negative impact on psychosocial health Shines a Spotlight of DifferenceTM & is a catalyst for teasing and bullying How do we make lunch room time more inclusive? Option #1 Place a peanut-free desk at the end of the regular lunch table Fa child can be safe & sit with his/her friends of choice For safety, no trash can or lunch table behind the fa child Desk will be marked peanut-free Desk is cleaned with the set procedures as the peanut-free table 8

9 2/4/14 Peanut-free Desk Option #1 Peanutfree Desk Regular Lunch Table Option #2 A food allergic (fa) child sits at a corner of a regular lunch table For safety, no trash can or lunch table behind the fa child Students sitting next to, across & diagonally are screened to ensure a peanut-free lunch Peanut-free table area is cleaned per set procedures Regular Lunch Table Option #2 Regular Lunch Table 9

10 Option #3 Establish a Peanut Table Peanut allergic child is not ostracized on a daily basis for the rest of their school life. Students who have made the choice to eat peanut butter sit at the peanut table vs. the person who doesn t have the choice of having an allergy & therefore isn t ostracized Varying Inclusion Results These 3 Options offer greater inclusion than a peanut-free table Which Option for a child? Dependent on the food allergic child s physician recommendations Parents need i.e., separate table vs. regular table Offering these options outright to a parent is invaluable Inclusion Success Inclusion success is dependent on the school s cleaning & monitoring Cleaning per set food allergy procedures Monitoring of the contents of surrounding 3 lunches, Option #2 Monitoring & honor system of peanut lunches sitting at the peanut table, Option #3 10

11 Safe, Inclusive Celebrations Food-Free Birthday Alternatives Homework pass Coveted job Donate a book to the library, be the 1st to check it out Happy Birthday band bracelet Parent reads a favorite story to the class Play games - 7-Up, board games, etc. Seasonal Party Alternatives Create multiple crafts in place of partaking of food: decorate a small pumpkin, color ceramic spring eggs, Party Games - bean bag toss, ping pong relay, pumpkin bowling, etc. Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles Organize a school-wide scavenger hunt Fun experiments - Slime, Borax crystal snowflakes, etc. 11

12 2/4/14 How much more planning does it take? These Valentine craft ideas took less than 10 minutes to find on Pinterest. Why a Different, Safe Treat is NOT an Inclusive Alternative What happens when a child has a different treat than everyone else: FA Child is exposed to allergens FA Child cannot share what others are eating; not part of the group Every event based on food sharing is a reminder of the child s separateness Reminder that the adults in charge did not think he/she was important enough to be included 12

13 Social Consequences of Food Allergy by Catharine Alvarez, PhD See more at: Even if the food allergic student's parents try to compensate by bringing safe food to share with the whole group, the inability to reciprocate by accepting food from others creates stigma. When the parent of a food allergic child overcompensates by bringing multiple offers of food to the group, that is often met with resentment from the other parents who feel they are not given equal opportunities to share. This is a no-win situation, and the resentment of the group is expressed as ostracism of the allergic child and his family. Social Consequences of Food Allergy by Catharine Alvarez, PhD See more at: Take a moment to look at this diagram. If it looks familiar, that is probably because it is based on Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Notice that the need to belong is part of the base of the pyramid. We are all social beings, and belonging is a basic, human need. The power of that need is probably greatest in adolescence, and that is reflected in the fact that teens are at a greater risk of dying from their food allergies than younger children. Years of social stigma take their toll, and teens may place a higher priority on inclusion than safety. And in the school context, when kids' basic needs are not being met, their ability to learn is compromised. Food Allergy Bullying 13

14 2/4/14 What We Know 35% to 50% of food allergic children reported some sort of teasing or bullying with regard to their food allergies 21% of bullying of the 50% was done by a staff member or a teacher 85% of food allergy bullying happens in the school setting Spotlight of Difference Spotlights Identify & promote differences Catalyst to teasing & bullying September - December 2012, 15 weeks, 9 instances of food allergy teasing or bullying Augment situations to create inclusiveness Planting Unit = glove wearing Service Project = determine how the allergic can participate School Movie Night = food in designated area Be a Friend, Be a Partner ~ Educate Yourself on Food Allergies & Accommodations ~ Food-Free: Class Projects, Manipulatives, Incentives & Rewards ~ Teach & Model Compassion, Tolerance & Acceptance ~ Be: Open, Creative, Willing to Compromise, & INCLUSIVE ~ Become Involved in Creating More Food Allergy Awareness ~ Support the Self-advocacy of Students with Food Allergies ~ Open Communication with All Parents ~ Get Help If You Need It 14

15 Final Thoughts Be conscious of the message we send kids about food Keep the focus of food on living Ensure curriculum, activities & celebrations are inclusive, fun & memory making for all Communicate zero tolerance for teasing and bulling Final Thoughts Life is full of moments Sometimes we don t understand the value of a moment until it is a memory. ~ Dr. Seuss What kind of memory do you want to create? Questions Questions Kristin Beltaos, M.A Kristin@agiftofmiles.com agiftofmiles KristinBeltaos A Gift of Miles 15