Roughly one third of children who suffer from food allergies are bullied. This bullying may happen at school, on the playground, at a friend’s house, or other places. It’s important to talk to your child about their food allergies and what they can do if they become a victim of food allergy bullying.
If you think you may have a food allergy, contact the Langford Allergy team today!
An allergic reaction to food occurs when a certain food substance causes your immune system to overreact. Anaphylaxis may occur which can cause trouble breathing. Because food allergies can have fatal consequences, it is vital to talk to your children about food allergy bullying.
Signs & Symptoms of Bullying
A bully may taunt your child or be physically aggressive. In either case, the effects can be very dangerous. If your child does not tell you immediately about the bullying, watch for signs such as:
- Abnormal amount of isolation
- Changes in eating habits
- Decreased desire to attend school
- Emotional outbursts
- Loss of friends
- Trouble sleeping
Bullying can affect the mental and emotional state of your child, as well as the physical. If your child is having trouble talking to you about the bully, encourage her to talk to a counselor. It’s important for them to have an outlet and someone they can confide in.
How You Can Help Your Child
Consider the following ways you can help your child protect herself against a food bully:
- Ask questions about specific parts of your child’s school day (i.e. lunch period, recess, etc).
- Connect your child to other children who have food allergies so they don’t feel alone.
- Create an open environment that encourages your child to talk to you about problems.
- Show your child how to use her EpiPen.
- Talk to your child about what food allergy bullying is and how to be protected.
Discover more ways you can help protect your child with her food allergies while at school. Please call us at 478-787-4728 with any questions you may have about food allergies.