I recently had an incident with my PA child at her school (School giving epi-pen when no reaction). Anyway, it seems that things are going downhill fast at school.
Currently she attends an afterschool program at her school and I provide all of her snacks. She was going to attend the summer camp at the school, but it is not looking good now.
The afterschool program/summer camp is run by school employees - no teens and no kids above 5th grade. I assumed the adults would be able to understand the nut allergy issues (after I explained it to them) and handle it. Afterall this is a public school and she is not the only kid with the nut allergy. I am getting the impression that they are only willing to accomodate her by providing the most minimally allowed supervision as far as the allergy is concerned and do most anything in their power to assume no responsibility for her. No amount of education or talking with them has gotten a better result. They just do not want to deal with the "allergy thing".
This is the first time she will be attending a "summer camp". It is really daycare for elementary aged kids.
Do any of you send your kids to afterschool programs? Summer camp/daycare for older kids? I know this is summer camp and play time and most of the kids get more freedom now due to age. Most of the summer camps are staffed with older teens. How do you get a reluctant teacher/school to be a good advocate and watch person for your child? Clearly she is too young to make all the decisions herself (she is 6). How do you find a summer camp/afterschool program that you feel safe that they "get it" when it comes to your kids allergies?
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-hapi
I'm a celiac (biopsied 2003) Mom of two. anaphylactic to PCN.
* Daughter, 6 anaphylactic to peanuts and tree nuts. Allergic to PCN.
*Daughter, 2 Allergy to dairy & casein, and PCN. Suspect shellfish allergy too.
Plus two dog
I think it's impossible to force someone to be a good caregiver. The simple bottom line is - daycare providers can never = mom. They are paid (often poorly paid) caregivers and your child is work. To you, your child is a precious angel. There can be no equivalent. I feel like if they won't get it, you can't ever make them. No amount of literature, begging, niceties, threats - nada will work in the end. Witness the many stories here of inlaws, grandmas and such who never get it. How much less so a paid employee over your kiddo?
I would move on until you find a proper placement, or find a way to stay with junior.
My daughter is 7 and we to date won't allow off site camps unless one of us sits there, the ENTIRE time. Too many mistakes happen even by people we feel are kindly and understand.
Yes, it's awful, exhausting, and a nightmare at times for us. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
This is my honest opinion. In the end you have to go with your gut. If it feels scary and you are afraid of it, it probably IS scary. Run!