Fact sheet: Managing food allergies (5-8 years)

From the Centre for Community Child Health

If your child has a food allergy or food intolerance, it's important for them to learn how to manage their food allergy, and how to explain their allergy politely and clearly, to people who need to know- at restaurants, play dates, school and any occasion where food is available.

Presenting allergies to anyone that needs to know

Your child needs to:

• always feel okay about asking if food is suitable for them to eat
• know whether a food contains their allergen before they eat, and to say thank you, but no thank you - if there's any uncertainty
• be able to read food labels to look out for their allergen and to keep an eye on any food preparation going on around them

Working with your child's school

If your child has a food allergy, you should be involved in working with your child's school to prepare an allergy management plan. This plan should reflect the school's general allergy management plan. Annual reviews of your child's plan will help you to keep everyone up-to-date with all the relevant information about your child's allergy.

Learn More

• Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia offers resources to help with managing allergies.
• The Canadian Why Risk It app helps young people to learn about food allergy risks. It's available for iOS and Android.
• You can read more about food allergies and intolerances on the Raising Children Network.

More Information

• Visit Raising Children Network - Food allergies in children and teenagers
• Visit Raising Children Network - Allergies in children and teenagers
• Visit Raising Children Network - Lactose intolerance: babies, children and teenagers