Education

STOP. LOOK. ASK. GO.

Become familiar with this simple and age-appropriate message that children can understand and sing along with!

Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are experiencing a period of tremendous growth and development. From a 12-month-old baby saying his first words to a five-year-old girl learning how to hop, skip and jump, it’s a time of curiosity, wonder, and hands-on exploration.

When food allergies are diagnosed during these years, it’s important that parents and providers become positive food allergy role models, teaching children through their words and actions.

“STOP. LOOK. ASK. GO.” is a simple, honest and age-appropriate message (sung to the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes") that children can understand.

We want children to:

STOP before they eat.
LOOK at the food.
ASK an adult if it’s OK.
GO if the adult says so.

Adults can also STOP. LOOK. ASK. GO.

STOP: Educate yourself about food allergies and model life-long learning.

Get the facts on what food allergies are – and what they aren’t – plus how to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
What’s it like to be newly diagnosed with food allergies? Check out these resources to learn what it’s like for families and individuals who have had this life-altering diagnosis.
Learn best practices to help create and maintain a safe and healthy school environment – including the latest recommendations from the CDC on COVID-19.

LOOK: Find ways to help children with food allergies.

Children have unique ways of describing their experiences and perceptions, and allergic reactions are no exception. Get familiar with how a child might describe a reaction.
Learn how to recognize symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Did you know that milk can be found in chocolate? Or that egg can often be found in ice cream? Explore these tips to avoid the top nine food allergens and to help navigate food labels and ingredient lists.
Review each child’s emergency care plan. Every child at risk for anaphylaxis should have a plan in place explaining how to treat an allergic reaction.

ASK: Provide a safe and nurturing environment for all children.

Whether you are a parent or a provider, schedule a time to meet prior to the first day of daycare or preschool so that all necessary precautions are discussed ahead of time.
If you are a provider, share resources and information about your child care center's food allergy policy at events (open house, conferences, meetings) and via communication platforms (handouts, e-newsletters, private FB page). Encourage all parents to view this Parent-to-Parent food allergy video
If you are a parent, share resources and information about your child's food allergy prior playdates, birthday parties and other gatherings. Interested in learning what providers can do to help keep your child safe? Check out this Teacher food allergy video.
Remember, food allergy policies impact every child and family, not just those with food allergies.

GO: Be prepared and flexible. Children depend on you to make decisions on their behalf.

Download the STOP. LOOK. ASK. GO. checklist

Download

Early Childhood and Food Allergies - Training Videos

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR) developed food allergy education videos for early childhood professionals, parents and children. The videos for professionals and parents are also available in Spanish with the option for closed captioning.