Teaching your child about food allergies is an important part of keeping them safe. Children can start to learn about food allergies at a young age. This knowledge will give them confidence with self-managing their food allergies as they get older.
Here are some resources created just for kids to help them learn more about food allergies. The links below include books, videos, games, music, and classroom resources.
1. Ally and Andy’s Activity Book
This coloring and activity book from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) gives children and families a basic understanding of food allergies, as well as asthma. It is a fun way for children to learn about food allergies in a story format. It has coloring pages, word finds, crossword puzzles, word scrambles, mazes, and other activities. It also has a list of allergy and asthma website resources for parents and kids. This book is available as a free PDF download in English, Spanish, and Arabic. If you don’t have a printer, you can take screenshots of the pages and load them into a paint type app on a tablet or computer for your child to work on. This book also has a printed English version (single book or pack of 10) available for purchase.
2. Arthur Family Health: Food Allergies
Arthur, a popular PBS character, and his friends offer several resources to help your child understand food allergies. Their site has information for adults and kids, games, activities, and videos. It also includes a link to an “Arthur” episode on food allergies, “Binky Goes Nuts.”
3. We Bare Bears (Cartoon Network)
Panda, one of the main characters on the “We Bare Bears” cartoon, has a peanut allergy. His allergy is a common part of the story line. The cartoon shows the characters avoiding peanuts and using epinephrine auto-injectors to treat allergic reactions.
Note: This show does show characters having anaphylactic reactions. Even though it handles reactions positively, you might want to watch it first if your child is alarmed by seeing reactions on TV.
4. Kyle Dine, Performer
Kyle Dine uses music to teach kids and families about food allergies. His site offers CDs, DVDs, and awareness items you can buy.
5. The BugaBees
Colorful insects explain food allergies through these children’s books. Eight best friends find ways to have fun and stay safe with food allergies. One book also helps siblings, friends, and classmates learn how to help kids with food allergies prevent reactions.
6. Resources for Teachers
Teal Classroom™: Food Allergy Awareness Kit
Forty-five percent of severe allergic reactions in schools begin in the classroom. A Teal Classroom™ means you have a classroom that encourages being safe and inclusive for people (students and staff) with food allergies. Share this guide with your child's teacher, school nurse and administrators as a resource to raise food allergy awareness in your child’s school. This book is available as a free PDF download.
Potential Food Allergens in Preschool and School Activities
Did you know some craft supplies and school activities can have hidden food allergens? Use our list to know what allergens to watch for. You can also use the list to teach your child to identify possible allergens in items like play dough. Or share your list with your child's teacher as you work together to make their classroom safe.
Make rice or cornstarch play dough free from the most common food allergens.
KidsHealth in the Classroom Teacher’s Guides
This site from Nemours offers resources to teach students about food allergies. They have downloaded PDFs for all grades that include discussion questions, activities, and quizzes.
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