Blog

Food Allergy Education and Growth Through FAACT’s Family Activities

August 1, 2020  |  Action-Plan, Adolescents, Advocacy, Allergies, Allergy, Allergy-Awareness, Anaphylaxis, Anaphylaxis-Action-Plan, Awareness, Back-To-School, Behavioral-Health, Blog, Board-certified-allergist, Caregivers, Children, Civil-Rights, Civilrights, Education, Elementary, Emotional, Emotions, Epinephrine, FAACT, Family, Food, Food-Allergies, Food-Allergy, Food-allergy-blog, Foodservice, High-School, Know-The-FAACTs, Label, Medic-Alert, Medical-ID, Medication, Medications, Nurse, Nurses, Nutrition, Parent, Preparedness, Readlabels, Registered-Dietitians, Safety-Tips, School, School-Lunch, School-Nurse, School-Resources, Support, Teens
Lunchtime

by Caroline Moassessi, FAACT’s Vice President of Community Relations

Let your child’s imagination turn your living room into a French bistro and your backyard into a soccer field - with a little help from the family. FAACT’s Family activities at Home Program is designed to teach about food allergy management while inspiring imaginative play and role-playing. Children with food allergies are exposed to endless scenarios challenging navigate life while staying food allergy safe – regardless of their age. 

FAACT has carefully crafted an ever-growing series of age-appropriate food allergy management activities for you to bring right into your living room. Children are masters of imagination and play, and these activities target the young mind eager for new experiences. Parents will delight in the detailed guidance provided to lead activities. Family members, older siblings, or babysitters can lead or join them in this fun educational opportunity – everyone is welcome!

Each activity outlines set-up suggested dialog and a meaningful learning opportunity. Fun and silly hats, scarves, and dress up attire are encouraged!

FAACT Family Activities at Home

COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights:

  • Let’s Rehearse Lunchtime at School
    Due to the pandemic and Back-to-School concerns, FAACT created a special activity to help your student prepare for lunch while executing proper mask wearing, allergen-safe handwashing while following food allergen management protocol. We advise all families of student’s returning to in person school to take a few brief moments to review this activity to help unsure student’s comfort and knowledge levels during snack or lunch time. This activity includes how to teach your child to manage lunch time in small steps, tips for practicing new routines, tips for parents and caregivers and important links to handwashing and mask wearing techniques.
  • Role Play for the Classroom
    While no one can predict fully what the next school year will look like, this is the perfect time to role play self-advocacy in the classroom setting. Once your family has a clearer understanding of the upcoming school year, you might consider revisiting this activity to help prepare your child for whatever the new school protocol for managing students with food allergies might be established. 

Other activities:

  • Let’s Play Sports
    You can hear the crowds roar as the final goal is scored! While everyone jumps for joy, a suspicious tray full of cupcakes magically appears. You and your child freeze. You do not want to cause a fuss, but you need to know who made the sweets, what is in them, and are they safe. Role-playing these types of situations are one of the best ways to prepare for those familiar uncomfortable moments when snacks or food are part of special activity. Wear your favorite jersey or don your best tutu as you and your little ones work through tough situations.
  • Get the Sillies Out! Learn to say, “No thank you!”
    Have you ever had a relative or family friend at a party insist you taste or try their special treat? Usually the food looks delicious, making it even more tempting. “Just try it!”, says your relative/friend. “There’s no {insert allergen} in it. Do not be so worried. Go on and take one!” Our relative wants everyone at the party to indulge and enjoy themselves. It feels rude saying no. But for someone with food allergies, taking chances could lead to a serious allergic reaction. This activity is designed to have you and your child laughing while practicing these three empowering words, “No thank you!
  • Restaurant Play at the Allergy Café
    Slip into a dress-up mode to create a fun casual café or fancy restaurant as children explore communication and navigating ordering food allergen safe foods. Scenarios explore food ordering, speaking to a waitperson, and communicating when things don’t go well. 
  • It’s Play Date Time
    Grab your child’s favorite stuffed animal or toy, an epinephrine auto-injector trainer, wipes, and a few snacks to role-play each step that is needed to manage a play date with food allergies. From a pretend conversation with the other parent or caregiver to carrying rescue medications to a play, both adult and child will have fun while getting comfortable with self-advocacy. 

Using play to teach is fun, exciting, and non-threatening. Children of all ages can let their imaginations run wild as they gently learn how to feel comfortable with self-advocacy and food allergy management.

Visit FAACT’s Family Activities Section to download activities, start role playing, and have fun.