Ugh, class trip to a farm!

Hi, is there any chance you could get together with the adult that is in charge of your son on this field trip and talk about every precausion needed. Maybe a chance of you having a relative or close friend fill in for you. This is the hardest thing with the allergy I think anyway. Wish i was there to help and best luck claire

What's the name of the farm? My son went to Green Acres last year. They have a fairly good no-nuts policy. He did however have a reaction on his hands but I believe that is was the combination of hay, and the very cold wet weather. His hands have reacted in the damp cold air before.

Green Acres, I believe, also has a nurse on staff.

The farm they are going to is called "Round the Bend" farm and it is on Jane Street, somewhere north of the 401. I have never heard of it before now.

I left a message at the farm but they haven't called me back yet. When I spoke to my dh about the trip he said he will try and book the day off, we think we will say, if Daddy doesn't go, Taran doesn't go if they say they already have enough helpers.

Just a thought. With Chris our doctor actually wrote a note that he felt it best for us to be on any field trip the children were on. The teacher explained to every family at open house and I'll tell you the families were excellent and understanding of this note. Who in their right mind would not let a person go and then if they think about it, it would be one less worry on their back. Best wishes Claire

I have finally spoken to the people at the farm and they can not guarantee that there are no nut products in any of their animal feed (The kids are allowed to feed the animals, which of course Taran wouldn't be allowed to do, but then the other kids would have that all over their hands and the fronts of their shirts, etc).
They also can't guarantee what the kids from the other schools will have in their lunches. There is one big eating room for all the schools and she said the tables are only wiped down once a day. Up to 5 or 6 different schools will be there at any one time.

I am also concerned because he has environmental allergies and asthma
(who knows what animals on the farm might trigger the asthma?). His Dad thinks we should allow him to go on the trip as long as Daddy goes along with them. I would rather he didn't go at all but he says I am worrying over nothing and that of course he would be watching him like a hawk and get him out of there at the first sign of a reaction. I'd rather he didn't have a reaction at all, but dh says why make him feel that different by not allowing him to go?

Am I being TOO cautious?

You aren't being too careful; last year, we went to a little farm with animals. It was unusually clean for a barnyard; as my PA daughter leaned against a fence where a cute pig was housed, she started reacting. She got red, started sneezing; fortunately, we have never had swelling (yet). We left and she was o.k., but I have no idea why this happened - I really didn't even think that there could have been a peanut involved (her only known allergy), but perhaps in the pig food - who knows? I assumed at the time that it was a reaction to the pesticides that must have been present since there were no flies around the pig pen. Be careful, go along, bring the Epipen & Benadryl - also, if you are uncomfortable with the situation, or you or DH can't go, perhaps arrange to go as a family on the weekend and bring one of your child's friends. Best wishes, stay safe.

Well, I would definitely let him go especially if his father can accompany him. It is easy to find reasons for not sending him but I think it is more important to make him feel included and part of the class and empowered to find ways of accommodating his special needs while still doing the things in life that other children are doing. With your husband's problem solving presence he and your son will be able to find somewhere safe to eat--maybe separately or on the bus or whereever. He won't feed the animals but he will love seeing them. He will learn lots about where our food comes from and about the role that farms and farmers play in his life. I think it is really important to teach our children how to live integrated not separated lives and this is an opportunity for your husband to demonstrate how peanut allergy related concerns can be considered, evaluated and addressed. Someday when you and your husband will not be with him, he will need these skills. Field trips with Dad along can be a learning opportunity in more ways than the teacher considered! Hope this helps. Take care. I know it is hard, especially after Nathan's death last spring to know how best to help and protect our kids.

Jusy had to share the good experience we had at a farm/pumpkin patch trip. I took the morning off and went as a parent chaparone with my preshcoolers class. There were two trailers pulling all 50+ kids and teachers. At the end of the farm tour, the tractor driver said he was going to go get a bag with wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans and PEANTUS for the children to take back to school. I didn't say a word (shocked) but all 6 teachers and about 10 kids YELLED NO PEANUTS! I love our daycare! The kids watch out for ALex and they are only 4 and 5.

Glad the trip went well. Careful parent I am in total agreement with you on your post. We have to let them go in order to learn about how to care for themselves. it is hard but as long as one parent or responsible person can go then they really need to go. If we keep them home and never let them go then they may never learn how to handle things.
Chris had to go yesterday without me on a football scrimmage. Had I not brought him up by taking him and teaching him how to handle himself we may have had a problem. Take care and best wishes. claire