Ep. 113: Managing Food Allergies in Children (Ages 5–11)
Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank Genentech and Acquestive for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 113:
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.
We cover how to model safe behaviors, reinforce allergy knowledge over time, and help kids build the skills and confidence to take charge of their health, one step at a time. You’ll also hear why emotional health for children and their caregivers matters just as much as physical safety, and how to talk to schools, friends, and caregivers about your child’s needs.
What we cover in our episode about managing food allergies in children:
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.
About Dr. Dave Stukus
Dr. David Stukus is a board-certified pediatric allergist and immunologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He specializes in food allergies, asthma, and allergic conditions, with a focus on improving patient communication and education. Dr. Stukus is also a national speaker, medical educator, and advocate known for making complex allergy topics accessible to families and healthcare professionals.
Catch Dr. Stukus on our podcast where he demystifies the complicated world of food allergy testing.
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) - Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music
Episode 2: Food Allergy Basics for Newly Diagnosed Families (Ep. 111) - Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music
Episode 3: Managing Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers (Ages 0–5) - Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music
Or watch full episodes on YouTube!
Listen now! Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music
Resources for managing food allergies in babies & toddlers
More resources about food allergy management for elementary school kids:
AAAAI Ages & Stages PDFs
Episodes from The Itch Podcast:
What parents should know about managing food allergies for elementary-aged kids
The school-age years (5–11) are a time of growing independence, and that includes food allergy care. Your child is starting to spend more time away from you at school, sports, playdates, or birthday parties. This stage is all about building confidence, communication, and consistent routines.
Here are key things to know as a parent of a child with food allergies:
Kids need to know what they’re allergic to. At this age, children should be able to name their allergens and understand the basic idea of what it means to avoid them.
Practice using safe words. Children may not say, "I'm having an allergic reaction." They might say food feels "spicy," "fizzy," "hurts my tongue," or "stuck in my throat." Help them find the words that make sense for them.
Reinforce epinephrine use. Talk about epinephrine calmly and often so it doesn’t feel scary. Show them what the device looks like and practice using a trainer.
Update your child’s Food Allergy Action Plan yearly. Share it with all caregivers and school staff and walk through what to do in different scenarios so your child hears it too.
Create a network of trusted adults. Teachers, school nurses, bus drivers, and coaches all need to know about your child’s allergies. The more people who understand the plan, the safer your child will be.
Keep communication open. Ask your child how they feel about their allergy. Talk about their fears or frustrations. Let them know it’s okay to feel nervous or different and that you’ll figure it out together.
Build inclusion, not isolation. From cupcakes at school to snacks at soccer, help your child feel included. Pack safe alternatives, prep friends’ parents ahead of time, and remind your child that safety doesn’t mean missing out.
Timestamps
Our episode explores how to manage food allergies with elementary school-aged kids.
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)
