For most parents, the first day of Kindergarten is filled with emotion and apprehension. Their baby is growing up. Have they prepared them well enough? Will they make friends? So many concerns.
For those of us who have children with allergies, asthma, and anaphylaxis, the first day of kindergarten is totally different. If we are honest, if they rode the bus, half of us drove behind, terrified. We watched our cell phone/office phone religiously. Our thoughts were not on social adjustment and the like. We were wondering if the teacher would remember and respect the allergen free hand accommodation. If they would enforce the allergen free classroom. If someone would touch our child after having a peanut butter sandwich. If we are honest with ourselves, that first day, and for the rest of their life, we send our child to school each day wondering if they will come back to us.
So, what is the best way to prepare for kindergarten? Here are our tips:
1. Start early...like before kindergarten roundup. Early spring is best. This is not the time to talk about accommodations. This is investigatory time. Talk to the teachers. The cook. The janitor. The EA's. All of the behind the scenes folks, because they will be the ones taking care of your kiddo. And THEN talk to the principal. Ask him/her what they feel their role is when it comes to managing a kiddo with a food allergy.
2. When kindergarten roundup starts (and you have your school picked) send a letter requesting an evaluation for a 504. I PROMISE you won't regret it. Any school willing to accommodate should be willing to write it down. 504's have procedural safeguards, IHCP's do not. You can always choose to end the 504...but it is easier to go that direction than the other. DO NOT DISCUSS ACCOMMODATIONS at this point. Only request an evaluation for your child based on life threatening food allergies.
3. In the weeks headed up to school, you will have your 504 meeting. Your kiddo may either be determined able to self-carry epinephrine or not. If not, you CAN request a teacher carry it. IT SHOULD NEVER REMAIN IN THE NURSES OFFICE! When minutes count, you want the Epi with your kiddo. You will also be talking about what other accommodations may be needed.
4. Start talking to your kid (more) about not sharing food, washing hands, how to recognize and report symptoms to adults, etc.
5. If your kiddo is self-carrying, get a self carrier. If teacher is carrying, get something similar. With our daughter, they carry a lot (and I mean a lot). We got a messenger style bag that carries her EpiPen Jr., Inhaler, Spacer, Wet Ones wipes, an Child CPR mask (worst case scenario), a pulsoximeter, and a thermometer.
6. When the big day arrives, be brave in front of your kiddo. They are likely just as scared as you. We have to do everything in our power to keep life as normal as possible for them. Sometimes that means telling them they will be fine and then crying in the car.
7 .Enjoy the year. There will be mistakes. Deal with them as they come. Some will be minor, some, not so much. Try to pick one thing you can "not complain about" so that you are not the parent that does nothing but complain about the school. Let me first say that I am not saying let them off the hook. Let me give you an example: My daughter's school has been nothing but one battle after another. I swear, sometimes I no more than get one issue resolved before we are on to the next. All allergy/asthma related. I also don't particularly care for their teaching style. Guess what...I shut my mouth about the teaching style. Why? She is making good academic progress, and I AM NOT A TEACHER. I need to not be fighting about EVERYTHING!
Good luck!
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