Almost all Crayola products are gluten free. Elmers makes a similar celiac friendly claim. This is good news for parents, since children have a tendency to eat everything in sight and are likely to put their hands in their mouth before they wash up after an art activity. There are two exceptions to what I just said: Crayola Dough is gluten toxic and the company admits that there is a possibility that residue from the Clay Dough will contaminate other products. Elmer’s states that its finger paints are off-limits to celiac youngsters.

  Discount School Supplies carries a gluten free modeling dough.  A recipe for edible gluten free finger paints is posted at The Allergy Grocer.

 I retired as an elementary educator on my 60^th birthday, the first day I was able to do so. I did not realize it at the time, but an as-yet-undiagnosed case of celiac sprue was tearing my body apart and I wanted to enjoy life while I still could. I had been in the classroom for 38 years but first heard the terms “celiac sprue” and “gluten free diet” on August 2, 1999. They were talking about me!!!!!!!

  This is one of those times when I feel like I get my best ideas when it is almost too late to do anything about them. As a celiac and an education professional, I have both the background information and the motivation to help parents of celiac children. I promise to write more articles before school starts this fall. In the meantime, if I can be of any help, e-mail me by using the button in the middle column