Our Allergy Social Story
Helping children understand their allergies, feel prepared and grow in confidence.
Living with allergies can sometimes feel confusing or overwhelming for young children. Our Allergy Social Story has been created to help children better understand their allergies and the things that help to keep them safe.
Using simple, child-friendly language and illustrations, the story explores everyday life with allergies in a gentle and reassuring way, helping children learn about their medication, speaking up, asking for help and understanding that having allergies is just one part of who they are.
Created with real children, families and experience in mind
Our Allergy Social Story was created from our own experiences of raising children with allergies and supporting families through Free From Families.
As both a mum and a primary school teacher, I know how important it is to give children information in a way they can understand, without making allergies feel frightening or overwhelming.
The story has been designed to help children begin to understand their own allergies, recognise the things that help to keep them safe and, most importantly, feel confident asking for help when they need it.
Who is our Allergy Social Story for?
The story has been created to support children living with allergies and can be used:
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at home with parents and carers
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when a child is newly diagnosed
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before starting nursery or school
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when preparing for a new experience or change
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in nurseries, schools and other childcare settings
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with children who may benefit from simple, clear and reassuring explanations
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Every child’s experience of allergies is different, and the story can be shared and revisited whenever your child needs a little extra reassurance or support.
More than just a story
Our Allergy Social Story is designed to help start important conversations between children and the adults who care for them.
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Together, you can explore questions such as:
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What are my allergies?
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What helps to keep me safe?
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Why do I have my medication with me?
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What should I do if I don’t feel well?
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Who can I ask for help?
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How can I tell someone about my allergies?
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The story can be read together at home, shared with the adults supporting your child or revisited before important milestones and new experiences.
Part of Something Bigger
Our Allergy Social Story also links with the wider aims of our Allergy Allies programme.
Allergy Allies is our clinically reviewed allergy education programme for EYFS to Year 6, helping schools teach children about allergies in an engaging, age-appropriate and meaningful way.
While Allergy Allies helps create greater understanding and awareness amongst all children, our Social Story can support children with allergies to better understand their own needs, grow in confidence and begin to develop the skills they need to advocate for themselves.
Together, our resources aim to create safer, kinder and more inclusive communities where children with allergies feel understood, supported and confident.
Support your child to understand their allergies
Whether your child has recently been diagnosed, is starting school, preparing for a new experience or simply beginning to ask more questions about their allergies, our Allergy Social Story is here to help make those conversations a little easier.
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Together, our resources aim to create safer, kinder and more inclusive communities where children with allergies feel understood, supported and confident.