Creative Remedies: Transforming Medicine Time Into Fun Time!

Pleading, threats, restraints—all these can work with a fussy reader or a picky eater. But when it comes to a kid who is unwell and needs to take medicine, they just don’t work. Very few kids are calm during medicine time. And if yours is one of them, that would be good for you.

For most children, medicine time is often a period where they will cry, wrestle you, and even dash out to the farthest part of your home. These little ones have sweet teeth, and anything that’s not will not be easily allowed into their mouth. What’s more, using scare techniques and forcing them to have medicine will not work. 

As a mom, you need to find creative ways to make your kids take medicine on time. Here, we’ll explain how you can transform medicine time into fun time:

Have a positive attitude

Your kids can easily read the mood you are in. So, when you get frustrated during medicine time, your child can easily resist taking the medicine. Younger children often take their cues from their parent’s emotions. Therefore, when you are frustrated, they will also be frustrated.

But when you give them medicine with the right attitude, they will consider taking it. Be cheerful and calm, and your kid will hopefully follow suit.

Make it fun

Almost all children have an innate need to resist taking medicine. Sometimes, when you threaten them, they will be more resistant. So, you need to make medicine time fun. The good thing is that kids medicine often comes with a unique box. This box sometimes has funny or relatable images, such as a hiding animal, their favorite fruit, or even a teddy bear.

You can use the images to make the medicine appear enticing. Also, you can make games to help them take the medicine. These games can be tea time, play dress up, or even pretend teddy bear games.

If your kid is not into playing pretend, incentivize them with something they love. This can be a dunk in the pool or their iPad. Whatever it is, make sure you hold up to your promise after they take their meds. This can make them more eager to take medicine the next time.

Improve the flavor of the medicine

One of the main reasons why kids don’t like medicine is because of their taste. So, as a mom, you have to find ways to “fool the tongue” when you give your babies their medicine. Ask the pharmacist whether you can mix or crush medicine in food.

When you crush the tablets, you will have powder. You can then place the powder into your baby’s food. In that way, the taste of the medicine will be covered by your food’s flavors. Remember that sometimes kids don’t finish all of their food—this can put the medicine to waste.

To avoid this, mix the crushed medicine with only a portion of the food. And then feed that first. When it comes to liquid medicine, you can mix it with tasty chocolate syrup, apple sauce, pudding yogurt, or a milkshake/smoothie. 

Give your kids something cold first

Anything cold, like ice cubes, ice cream bars, or even a popsicle, can make it easier for your kids to take medicine. Therefore, before your child takes any medication, consider giving them something cold.

It will ensure that they have a cold tongue. And a cold tongue can help to reduce the severity of the medicine’s taste.

Give them rewards

Rewards can act as great incentives to make your kids take their medicine. You don’t have to give them material gifts. Consider verbal rewards. You can tell them that they are responsible and good kids.

Or you could give them stickers every time they finish their medicine. The rewards can make them feel great, and the reward session will make medicine time fun.

Explain why

Children can be very understanding. So, if you give them something bitter without telling them “why,” they are more likely to reject it. 

Therefore, if your kid is old enough to understand, explain why they need to take the medicine. You don’t have to explain it in detail. But at least explain how the medicine will benefit them. This can help to make them responsible for their health.

Bottom line

A child who is unwell needs to take medicine in order to feel good. Therefore, as a mom, you have a duty to give it to them. However, that may not be easy as most kids are resistant to medicine, and restraining them will not work. So, use any of the above creative remedies to transform medicine time into a fun time. Remember to choose a remedy that will work for your child.