ALLERGY IN CHILDREN: SCHOOL-LIFE
You may need special help and collaboration from staff at school if your child is made ill by things he or she encounters there. The best way to achieve this is, again, to be matter-of-fact, combined with offering staff as much practical help as you can in sorting things out. If you want them not to use certain polishes or cleaners in your child’s vicinity, for instance, it helps to be able to propose or even give them an alternative. If you want your child not to wear certain parts of the uniform, for example, it helps to offer them an alternative which is likely to be acceptable. Be assertive, but not aggressive or over-emotional. The staff may privately consider you over-fussy, but if your child genuinely will be better for something being done or avoided, you are right to insist. Do not ask for things which are not strictly important, and try to get the staff not to differentiate your child – to treat him or her as normally as possible.
Your child’s needs will vary according to his or her allergies or sensitivity. Some of the things over which you may need to take care are food and drink. It may be easier for a child sensitive to foods to take a packed lunch each day, rather than eat school lunches, and to take his or her own water or juice for break-time drinks.
If your child is sensitive to chemicals, he or she may be sensitive to cleaning products, polishes or disinfectants used in the school. If you suspect these, either ask for them not to be used in the places where your child goes, or offer substitutes.
If your child is sensitive to solvents, check that paints and glues used in schools are not solvent-based. Oil paints should be avoided, but water-based paints will be no problem. PVA adhesive rarely causes problems. Ask that felt-tip pens are water-based, rather than solvent-based.
Swimming can cause a child sensitive to chlorine and other disinfectants to react, and may be best avoided if your child appears unwell or worse afterwards. Other sports activities may affect your child – on damp days outside in winter if allergic to moulds, or on summer days if allergic to pollens. Ask for alternatives to outdoor activities if your child is severely ill. If pollens are the problem, exam time in summer can be difficult for your child.
If school pets or animals are kept, or allowed to roam, in schoolrooms, these can affect a child highly allergic to pets. See if this can be changed or controlled.
If your child goes on any school trip or holiday, make sure that staff have details of any medication, special diet or other requirements. Send supplies of unusual foods with the child, if necessary.
*294\117\8*
