Manage My Environment

Allergies getting the best of you? Small changes can make a difference. Here you’ll find tips to reduce your exposure to allergens and articles on enjoying your favorite activities while managing your symptoms.

Every child is unique. Children’s allergies, however, are fairly common. If your kid is one of the millions who will suffer from allergies this year, you can relieve their symptoms and teach them ways to avoid allergy triggers.

Teach your kids
Raise an allergy know-it-all. The more your kids know about their symptoms, the easier it will be to cope.
• Explain their allergies in simple terms. Be honest and reassuring.
• Show them what kinds of items and places are most likely to trigger their symptoms.
• Teach them how to recognize and describe their symptoms.
• Remind them not to touch strange plants or animals, even pets.
• Create a plan for when they have symptoms and you aren’t there, like when they are at school or a friend’s house.

Share your concerns
Sharing is caring, right? So talk to your kid’s doctors and teachers about their role in keeping your child’s allergy symptoms in control.
• Communicate with your pediatrician about any new symptoms or developments
• Inform teachers, school officials, and any other grown ups who spend time with your kids
• Talk with the school nurse, and offer written instructions and permission for medication.

Control their environment
There are a lot of great tips in the Indoor and Outdoor Allergens tabs. Here are a few more specifically for parents:
• Track kid's symptoms – note where and when they occur, and what triggers a reaction.
• Keep dust and clutter to a minimum.
• Keep pets and plush toys out of kids’ bedrooms.
• Store toys in a dust-proof box, and wash plush toys regularly.