Prepare for children with allergies

It is becoming more and more common for at least one party guest to have some type of allergy. It is very upsetting for children with allergies to be left out, so it is important to do a little planning to make the party fun for everyone!

If you are aware of the allergy, call the parent of the child beforehand and ask what steps need to be taken to keep the child safe, such as ask the parent for a list of what the child cannot eat or come into contact with and always check if there is anything you are unsure about. You may like to ask the parent if they have any allergy-free recipes you might be able to use. Most likely the parent will bring along their own food that is safe to eat but it is always nice to be prepared and make sure the child is included as much as possible.

If it is a serious allergy, such as children with anaphylaxis, it is important to ask the parent to go through a safety plan that you can follow so you know how to recognise and deal with an allergic reaction. Although it is unlikely that the parent will not stay at the party to keep an eye on their child, it is important to ask for a contact number in case of an emergency.