I was talking with an elementary school teacher friend of mine the other day and received some interesting, useful (some surprising) information. We know how we’d like things regarding allergies handled in classrooms, but here are some good tips from a teacher on the best route in doing so:

• Talk to the teacher as well as send in an informative letter. Tone is everything, don’t be wishy washy but don’t be condescending. Let the teacher know your child’s needs, symptoms, dangers of eating or coming in contact with the allergen.
• Don’t be surprised if you’re not able to change the world (or at least the class) at the beginning. I’m not saying don’t have goals you’d like to see implemented, but it is hard for one teacher to control everything that comes in and out of the classroom (and is eaten for lunch) every day. You can request a nut free classroom, if you get it, it’s another story.
• Remember that kids eat before coming to school. Lots of kids eat peanut butter before coming to school – it is a healthy breakfast for those not allergic. Do they wash their hands? We’d like to think so, but remember they are kids and they are in a hurry. Teach your child to be a good hand washer.
• You are free to talk to other parents, maybe at an open house, but remember again, you probably won’t change all of their habits immediately. Again, approach is everything. This teacher told me how much more they value a concerned, informed approach than a militant one.
• Take the time to teach your child what he or she needs to be doing. Remember, kids, even on the elementary school level switch classes. They go to music, they go to art or language, and could very well sit in a seat where someone with peanut buttery fingers sat. That’s the real world, though, you can’t clean everything everywhere for them. Teach them to be good hand washers, keep fingers out of their mouths and don’t be afraid to tell their teacher if they feel funny or think they are experiencing any symptom at all.

We talked about one teacher who my daughter actually had. Another girl with a peanut allergy was in the class as well a boy with a tree nut allergy like my daughter. The teacher loved nuts, all  kinds. There was occasion ( I just found out) when she ate them during the day. Maybe when the kids were out, maybe whens he was at lunch. You know what? No one of those three children ever had any kind, even the slightest reaction all year long.