I have many fond memories of play dates with my friends as a young child. But as a Type 1 Diabetic, my mother had to be prepared when dropping me off at a friend’s house to play. She had to make sure that my friends’ parents understood what I could or couldn’t eat (in those days, sweets of any kind were a big no-no). She also had to educate the family on what to do if I became hypoglycemic. Before the playtime fun could begin, she would always have informative discussions with the family to ensure they were comfortable and understood my condition.
Play dates are also often a challenge for families of children with food allergies. That’s why we would like to share some of our favorite tips to help parents and caregivers with food allergy kiddos plan an allergy-safe play date. Keep in mind these tips can be used for both older and younger children.
- Make play date cards. There are hundreds of choices of play date cards, and even allergy specific ones like these on the market. These cards are ideal for documenting your child's dietary and medical needs.
- Bring your own snacks (for the whole gang). Create your own allergen safe snacks so that your little one and their play date guests can all enjoy snack time together. Here are some allergen safe recipes to look through.
- Create a caregiver book. Prepare a three-ring binder with all of your child's allergy information including a list of food allergens and ingredients to avoid, a list of contacts in case of an emergency, EpiPen® or Twinject® instructions, schedules, allergy friendly recipes, etc. Having this information all in one place will make it easy to find in an emergency.
- Consider inviting parents, too. For very young children who aren't used to being away from mom or dad, and even for older kids making their first visit another family’s home, consider making play dates a family affair. Invite the other parent (or caregiver) to join you for coffee and chat while the kids play. Many kids need to work up to the "drop-off" play date, and many parents are wary about leaving their children in the home of someone they don't know very well. This will give you time to speak with the other parent, get to know them better and educate them on your little ones’ food allergies.
Communication is the most important part in ensuring that your child’s play dates are both safe and fun. What do you do to prepare for your child’s play dates?
- Christine
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