mcbean

Just an FYI as Dum-Dums are our candy of choice when in a pinch. Your teacher may know more than you think! ...

Q: My child is allergic to milk and nut products. What products do NOT contain these ingredients?

A: Dum Dum Pops, Saf-T-Pops, Swirl Saf-T-Pops, Marshmallow Treats, Candy Canes, Cane Classics, and Dum Dum Canes do not contain milk and nut products (see note below regarding Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops Variety Packs).

The ingredients in these products, as well as the processing aids (such as release lubricants), do not contain any tree nuts, peanuts, peanut by-products, eggs, milk, or dairy products. These products are processed on dedicated lines.

Q: My child has an intolerance to the gluten protein found in wheat. What products do NOT contain this ingredient?

A: Dum Dum Pops, Saf-T-Pops, Swirl Saf-T-Pops, Marshmallow Treats, Candy Canes, Cane Classics, Dum Dum Canes and Dum Dum Chewy Pops do not contain the gluten protein found in wheat, barley, rye, or oats.

We have contacted our suppliers on the ingredients we use, including sugar, corn syrup, citric, malic, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, artificial flavors & colors, starch, release agents, and processing aids. These products do not contain the gluten protein that causes a problem for people with Celiac Sprue.

Q: My child is allergic to red food coloring. What Dum Dum flavors do NOT contain red coloring?

A: Dum Dum flavors that do not contain red coloring: Blue Raspberry (blue), Sour Apple (green), Cream Soda (no color), Buttered Popcorn (yellow), Cotton Candy (light blue), and Banana (yellow).

mcbean

BTW, I will give my two cents, since the years ago that this came up I was a much more scared and protective mother than I am now...

I would not send my child to any type of school where they will be serving or providing food without them being able to understand and vocalize their potential issues with said food, if I (or they) had an issue with the food. It is the only reason that I was the snack parent at F's preschool. It is the reason I held him from kindergarten until he was six. He WILL.NOT accept any type of food or treat without checking with me or the teacher and vocalizing exactly what his food allergies are. And if he refused, it would be with a simple "No, Thank you" and no quip as to how what the teacher/adult was offering would rot his brain (aside from maybe adding "I'm allergic to that"). As such, if I had a preference that I made clear to my children that I wished they not have, they would not attend a situation where they might come into contact with that item unless I knew they were prepared to tell the teacher "No, thank you" or unless I were present to give my approval. Does that make sense?

So, unless my child is able to fully understand/vocalize what they are and are not allowed to have, or unless I were present, they would not attend that class, regardless of whether treats were expected.

bugginsmom

Just to add that I have never told Alden to say that they "hurt his brain", he came up with that on his own, based on our discussions of WHY we don't eat certain foods. (Research does show that food dyes are linked to ADHD and learning disabilities in some children, and my child is one who has exhibited altered behaviors when given red dye...documented with the ped and all!) I HAVE talked to him since about just saying no thank you or no I can not have that. However, the lady at the library kept *insisting* he take a piece of candy from her. Nobody should be feeding my child, except me and if it is offered they need to respecet a "no" answer from my child. His preschool that he will attend has very strict rules about only allowing children to eat what they bring.

As for the public attacks against me in this post...it is more of the same, just aimed at me and my parenting choices. Yeah, like THAT is going to change my mind. LOL! My child is not even four years old and you can bet that I believe it is my responsibility to control what goes into his body as long as I can so that when he is a bit older and out there making his own choices or being presented with alternative choices he will be better equipped to make the healthier choice. As I see it, that is my job as a parent.

BTW, Alden's favorite treat is "Alden's Chocolate Organic Ice-cream" (an actual brand name)....he does get treats!

bls05

Bottom line- we all make the choices we feel are best for our family. At the end of the day we should respect each other and ourselves for those choices. If it bothers you as a parent, Keri, say something.

KiwiMama

I really don't see why there needs to be a reward at the end of every day. Why can't going to class and being with friends be enough reward? I don't remember getting something every time I did an activity when I was little. But if they are needed - how about stickers, they are pretty harmless. The hand stamp is a fun idea, but Michael doesn't like them at all! - so you can't please everyone.

And as far as the Germ-x goes, I'd let that go too. It's only a small part of their week and you can educate them that it's only something done there.

I'm glad they are having a good time at the classes though.

Finn

Wow, who'd a thunk a dum-dum sucker could stir such emotions!

I was just thinking about this further and I wanted to add: At the end of each of Poppet's hip-hop classes a treat was given out. Sometimes a sticker, sometimes a ring, sometimes a sucker, sometimes gum, etc... I don't allow gum for my kids until they are 8 so when Poppet got gum as her treat she came out of class and handed it to me and said "I'm not allowed gum" I would say "Nope, no gum, sorry! I wonder what you'll get next week!" It was never a big deal (shocking considering EVERYTHING is a big deal to Poppet )
We also had this with Bean in K and 1st grades - the lunch ladies gave out gum sometimes and Bean would refuse. I actually had one of the lunch ladies tell me I needed to start letting him have gum because she wanted him to be able to have a treat with the other kids! It wasn't a problem with Bean, he knew our rules and why we had them, and he wasn't phased by it, so I didn't think it was necessary to change our thoughts on it.
I think this goes along with Aileen's point that you need to be comfortable with your children knowing what's right for themselves at the appropriate times. And weigh how your children are feeling about it too, if it isn't a life-threatening situation.

lapoissonne

Erika, I hate that you feel attacked. Jodi calling Bullshit is having fun with you, while yes a concern of so much food control on a kid. Yeah, what you have done for Alden is commendable. I am NO WHERE near what you do for your kid. I know speaking for me and my family, food is FUN. There are so many things in America that we do that makes food fun. You to go the ball game and you get a hot dog and ice cream sundae out of a hat cup. You go to the Circus and get cotton Candy. You go to grandmas and load up on Cold Stone and candy. You go the grocery store and get a cookie. You go to the POB place and get a lollipop. Once Sunday a month (maybe two if we lose track) mommy gets to take a nap while daddy takes the kids out for donuts (LOOOOOVE those Sunday mornings!). But you gotta face it, food is fun and it is wonderful that at an early age we have the ability to control what goes in their bodies (or let it get out of control like I have) but the whole underlying tone of the replies in this thread is....you gotta relinquish control when you release them into the world and just let them have fun with the other kids at the expense of a Dum Dum. Not everyone is as food educated as the next mom but we all grow up the same and the seed is planted (like Aileen and Finn shared) and you'd hope they go with it. Who knows where I would be in life if it wasn't for the plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at the end of Bible Study when I was a teenager....kept me going every week and got me involved in Church!