Valentines Day Treats

I just throw everything away when he gets home. He doesn't care, I always have plenty of safe candy for him for Valentine's Day. They usually bring ther cards and attached candy home in a bag - I go through and take all the candy out and give it back to him with just the cards. He doesn't even notice, and if he does, I tell him he can have his safe candy instead, and he's cool with that [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

The candy exchanging on Valentine's Day is so unnecessary. What wrong with just the cards? I don't send in candy, even safe candy, in my PA son's class or my other son's class, because I don't endorse handing out candy at school. And I throw out the candy my non FA son gets too. I'm uncomfortable with him getting/eating candy from people I may or may not know.

My DS's teacher has sent home many notes on Valentine's Day. She has written "NO FOOD ALLOWED" She suggested along with the paper Valentine to include a pencil or whatever if they choose to do so, they don't have to bring anything but the paper Valentine.

I donated three bags of different "safe" Valentine candy for her to pass out to the kids. No one has complained to her about the no food rule. They all know that food is not allowed in the room unless I provide it or ok the teacher to buy it. She buys the kids all the snacks for the kids using my pre-approved list and checks with me whenever she is out to see if all of the items are still ok.

We e-mail each other a lot and it works out great.

Jan

Thanks for the feedback. I wish I had mentioned it to her prior to her letter being sent home, unfortunately she sent it out so early I missed my opportunity.

I am not sure if I will trash the candy from school and supply my own at home or attempt a switch-or-u by having the teacher use only the supplied candy I provide in his specific bag.

I totally agree with you, mcmom, there is certainly no reason for the amount of sugar passed around the schools these days. It seems the only incentive the kids have are treats.
thanks for the feedback.

HI everyone - I haven't posted in a long time. I have a PA 1st grade daughter. Her classroom is nut-free (in theory).

I just returned home with her, after her V-Day party. Thank God I went to the classroom party. While there, she pulled a valentine out of her big envelope and asked, "Is this safe, Mommy?" It was a heart-shaped BUTTERFINGER, in a foil wrapper. I walked up to the teacher and showed it to her. She was concerned, but not as mortified as she should be, in my opinion.

I went to the principal, who was mortified. Our school district is in the midst of implementing district-wide food allergy guidelines. They are definitely working on things, but a slip like this is too much for me.

I feel angry, sad, tired, defeated. But thankfully, my daughter is okay.

Mary Beth

I generally take away the candy that comes with the valentines. Last year we gave pencils with the valentines. THis year we bought sqishy heart shaped "balls" (I'm not sure you can really call them balls if they are heart-shaped). If you go to the party store, or the dollar store, there are usually all kinds of non-food things kids can give out. I guess that's too much work on the part of most people, who probably pick up the stuff they hand out at the grocery store.

Help! My daughter doesn't have peanut allergies. I was getting ready to tape some lollipops to her Valentine cards and stopped to check the ingredients and below the ingredients it states "Packed in a facility that processes Peanuts, Nuts, Milk Products, Soy Protein, Wheat, Eggs and Sesame Seeds". Does this mean that the lollipops are out?

AshleysMom -- they are out if your childs class has a child with food allergies to those things listed on the lollipop.

There are peanut allergies in the classroom. The lollipops ingredients are Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavor and Color. Is the "Packed in a Facility" stuff a problem?

Thanks. Don't want to mess up.

Ashley'smommy,
Yes, if the company went through the trouble to actually label with a peanut label they are out.
thanks for taking the time to try and have a safe snack in the room!!

"Packed in a Facility" -- definitely a problem. My two sons cover allergies to peanut, tree nut and egg -- no way would I let them eat it.

AshleysMom, you just made my day. Thanks for your thoughtful and considerate question. I wouldn't let my PA child have the lollipops either. I can't tell you how much it means that you cared enough to come here and ask. Thank you.

Ashley`s Mom, thanks for taking the time to come here and ask. I wish all parents were as concerned as you. If an item is made in a plant which processes peanuts, a pa person can die from it. If this is new to you, it may be hard to imagine that, but there are several of us whose children have had life threatening reactions from items made in a plant that processes peanuts.