Food Allergies & Inclusiveness: Make It Happen! Minnesota AEYC-SACA Annual State Conference Kristin Beltaos, M.A.
Kristin Beltaos, M.A. Consultant Serve individuals, couples and families navigate life after a food allergy diagnosis Assist childcare providers (home and centers), districts and schools in the development of food policy Licensed Trainer, Minnesota Center for Professional Development Online Instructor, Eager-to-Learn, e-learning program of Minnesota Childcare Aware Member, Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota s Speakers Bureau Advocate, Write & lead the implementation of food allergy 504 Plans and mediate situations that arise between families and schools
*Image Kristin Beltaos original My Food Allergy Story Eldest Son, 10yo Food Allergies Diagnosed at 11-months Milk (touch & ingestion), Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts & Sesame Asthma Seasonal Allergies Second Son, 7yo Food Allergy: Soy Allergy Grew out of it at 6-months
Agenda Examine the current environment: In our plight to create safe environments do parents and educators sometimes shine an unnecessary Spotlight of Difference on our children? Analyze and reevaluate real life examples of activities and inclusion Investigate how Food Allergy Bullying is influenced by lack of Inclusion Group Work *Image Kristin Beltaos original
*Image Purchased from Shutterstock Food Allergies & Inclusiveness
*Image Purchased from Shutterstock From the Mouths of Babes
Quick Statistics 15 million Americans have a food allergy 5.9 million children under 18 are diagnosed with a food allergy Economic cost of children s food allergy is $25 billion per year 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
Examination of the Current Environment The Spotlight of Difference Many school activities and accommodations identify and promote differences, which in turn can be the catalyst for fa bullying. Curriculums that include food Incentives and Rewards with food Seasonal activities with food School-wide celebrations with food
*Image courtesy of Shutterstock freebie We accomplish The President s Fitness Challenge = Donut Have the reward positively support the accomplishment and teach healthy dietary choices and inclusive ways to celebrate. A child having to partake of a safe, but different treat than others shines a Spotlight of Difference.
*Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket Better choices An extra recess A bottle of water A medal, if you must Teach that the reward is in the accomplishment itself, in the feeling of a job well done!
*Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket Seasonal parties and activities can encourage differences if safe for all options are not found and provided Spider Oreos Halloween candy Cupcakes Gingerbread Houses
*Image Courtesy of onecreativemommy.com Better Choices Focus on activities, not food: Scavenger Hunt Beanbag Toss (safe beans) Bingo Snowflake Making Craft: Sock Snowman Seek and Find Puzzles
*Image purchased from Shutterstock Curriculum & Activities Understand where allergens are present and can hide: Planting Unit: Topsoil Mealworm Project: Mealworm is developed on wheat germ which is produced on shared equipment with allergens
*Image purchased from Shutterstock Find Inclusive Solutions Topsoil: Find safe topsoil Mealworm Project: Offer gloves to all children and not just the allergic child
*Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket School Movie Night School Movie Night where everyone watches the movie and eats and drinks in the gymnasium *Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket
*Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket Better choice might be Have an intermission so that students can have a restroom break and partake of a snack, if need be, in the cafeteria.
*Image purchased from Shutterstock 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 psycho-social health Shines a Spotlight of Difference TM & is a catalyst for teasing and bullying PEANUT FREE ALLERGY AWARE TABLE
*Image purchased from Shutterstock Allergy Lunch Table While an allergy lunch table may be needed in early childhood, preschool and kindergarten. By first grade, and for sure by second grade, a more integrated approach is necessary. PEANUT FREE ALLERGY AWARE TABLE
*Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket How do we make lunch room time more inclusive? Group Work
Option #1 Place a peanut-free desk at the end of a 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 same set procedures as the peanutfree table
Peanut-free Desk Option #1 The Tony Soprano Bench Chair Peanutfree Regular Lunch Table Bench
Option #2 Have a FA child sit at a corner of a regular lunch table For safety, no trash can or lunch table behind the fa child Table place setting marked peanut-free Students sitting next to, across & diagonally are screened to ensure a peanut-free lunch Peanut-free table area is cleaned per set procedures
Option #2 Bench Regular Lunch Table Bench
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
Varying Inclusion Results These 3 Options offer greater inclusion than a peanutfree table Which Option for a child? Dependent on the food allergic child s physician recommendations and the Parents comfort level/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
Reevaluate We need to reevaluate our activities and projects, remove the Spotlight of Difference to ensure a safe and positive experience for all During an evaluation, we 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 can Socialize, Celebrate, Incentivize, Reward, Learn and Craft? Examine the message we send children about isolating/segregating others We need to take responsibility for our actions when we isolate/segregate, as it is our CHOICE to do so
How Much Planning Does It Really Take?
Safe, Inclusive Celebrations *Image courtesy of Shutterstock freebie
Food-Free Birthday Alternatives Homework pass Coveted job Extra recess; Extra physical activity Donate a book to the library, be the 1st to check it out & have a parent read it to the class Happy Birthday band bracelet Parent reads a favorite story to the class Play games - 7-Up, board games, etc. Celebrate birthdays once a month - reducing multiple exposures
Seasonal Party Alternatives Create multiple crafts in place of partaking of food: decorate a small pumpkin, color ceramic spring eggs, make Valentine boxes, etc. Party Games - bean bag toss, ping pong relay, pumpkin bowling, Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, etc. Organize a scavenger hunt, per grade Fun experiments - Slime, Borax crystal snowflakes, etc.
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
*Image purchased from Shutterstock Food Allergy Bullying
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 = Have everyone wear gloves Service Project = Determine how the allergic can participate School Movie Night = Keep food in designated area
Things to Remember 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
Be Collaborate, *Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket Be A Partner Educate yourself on food allergies & accommodations Stay vigilant & avoid cross contamination Implement food-free alternatives Be open, Be creative, Be willing to compromise, Be inclusive Become involved in creating more food allergy awareness Open communication with all parents Get help if you need it!
Life is full of moments Sometimes we don t understand the value of a moment until it is a memory. - Dr. Seuss
*Image purchased from Shutterstock What kind of memory do you want to create? *Image courtesy of Microsoft PhotoBucket
Questions? Need help with a challenge? *Image purchased at Shutterstock Kristin Beltaos, M.A. 612.845.7585 Kristin@agiftofmiles.com www.agiftofmiles.com agiftofmiles KristinBeltaos A Gift of Miles