Dear Alexander,
I am 7 years old, and I just found out I have food allergies this year. Now that school is out, I hope to go to my friends’ houses a lot this summer. But they don’t know about my food allergies. Will I be okay without my mom?
You bet! Playdates are important for kids, and you shouldn’t let your food allergy stop you from going to a friend’s house. Careful planning before the playdate is also important. Remember that your mom or dad should always talk to your friend’s parents about your food allergies. They’ll talk about what foods are safe for you, how to tell if you are having a reaction, and what to do in case of a reaction. All of these steps are taken so that you can have a great time without worrying. You and your parents will also want to talk to your friend about your food allergy. FAAN has a great program to help kids without food allergies understand the seriousness of food allergy. Ask your parents to print out some of our Be a PAL: Protect A Life ™ From Food Allergies materials, available for free on www.foodallergy.org. Good luck!
The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.
