Kids, Food Allergies and Bullying

Yesterday our local news station published a story on their website about bullying of children with food allergies. The newest report is showing 1 in 4 of our kids with allergies are bullied by their peers (and sometimes even teachers).

The sad thing is, I'm not at all shocked by this statistic. I'm not even shocked to hear that kids have gone so far as to taunt or chase children with their allergens, trying to force a contact. With three food-allergic children in our home, with all having different allergies, I have seen first hand how cruel the siblings can be to one another. So the problem is not, as one reader commented, a lack of education and understanding. It's a problem of children  needing firm and immediate consequences when they are selfish and hurtful to other people.

What did shock me about the article is the attitudes of the readers who have commented so far. The extent of the ignorance was appalling. Comments ranged from the need to keep food allergic children at home in their glass bubbles, to the idea that food allergies are the creation of parents who are craving attention for themselves. If these are the opinions of the adults, it's no wonder so many children are expressing the same harsh attitudes.

The article and the reaction of the readers underscore my latest debate...what to do about Becca's celiac disease and peanut allergy as she moves into elementary school. The preschool she is in doesn't cook any food on site, so we aren't experiencing flour or other gluten ingredients being dispersed in the air. But kindergarten is unlikely to bring a similar reprieve. I am undertaking a search of city resources to see how we can prepare for this transition. I am hoping that there will be an alternative to home-schooling her, as she really seems to enjoy the school experience. But PB's safety cannot take a back seat as we plan for her future.