#113 - Managing Food Allergies in Children (Ages 5–11)

How do you help your child go from knowing they have a food allergy to actually managing it in everyday life? This is the stage when everything starts to shift. Between the ages of 5 and 11, your child is learning how to describe symptoms, speak up at school, and navigate birthday parties. They’re also watching you closely and picking up how to talk about food allergies based on how you do it. In this episode of our Food Allergy Stages & Stages Series, pediatric allergist and immunologist Dr. Dave Stukus joins Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta to talk about how food allergy care changes in the early school years.  What we cover in our episode about managing food allergies in ages 5 to 11: Build awareness early. Teach kids to name their allergens, recognize symptoms, and use simple words to describe how they feel. Model safe behavior. Kids learn by watching you read labels, ask questions, and stay calm. Normalize epinephrine. Practice with a trainer and talk about it openly so it feels familiar, not scary. Prepare for real-life situations. From school to parties, give kids scripts and strategies to feel confident and included. Support emotional wellness. Watch for signs of anxiety and help your child feel empowered, not afraid. Episode 4 in our “Food Allergies: Ages & Stages” series  Across six episodes, we explore how food allergies show up and shift through different phases of life, from introducing solids in infancy to navigating school and adapting in adulthood. We’re here with evidence-based info, expert insights, and lived experience to guide you through it all. Episode 1: Early Allergen Introduction (Ep. 110) Episode 2: Food Allergy Basics for Newly Diagnosed Families (Ep. 111) Episode 3: Managing Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers (Ep. 112) Made in partnership with the Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to Genentech and Aquestive for sponsoring today’s episode. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.   Timestamps 01:42 Breaking down food allergy care by age group 02:58 What kids need to know about living with food allergies 04:47 Sharing allergy information without creating fear 06:40 Talking to children about symptoms 08:40 What to tell kids about epinephrine 11:04 Helping kids without passing on fear or anxiety 13:18 Mental health signs related to food allergies 16:04 Managing allergens in the home environment 19:50 The pros and cons of allergy tables at school 21:42 Communicating with schools and daycares 25:29 Preparing for parties and sleepovers 27:33 Final tips for parenting kids with food allergies (ages 5–11)