Every parent will have to give medicine to their child at one time or another. The process can be met with resistance. Parents with children fighting cancer may find it difficult to administer lifesaving medication.

“She [my child] hates the medication we have to give to her daily,”One mother wrote this on the National Children’s Cancer Society’s website. www.children-cancer.org. “She will not swallow the pills. Crushing them tastes awful and to give liquid is almost impossible.”

Why are children refusing to take medicine? It is not hard to see that medicine, even those in fruity flavors, can taste terrible. Children who are severely ill often feel out of control and scared, so they may refuse medication as a means of self-assertion.

Parents don’t have to despair. Here are some tips that parents can follow to make this less stressful, and hopefully without tantrums and tears.

– Give them an “out.”Your child should take a break if they get combative during a medication session. It should be for approximately five minutes.

– Make the medicine more enjoyable. If your doctor permits, you can mask the medicinal taste of medicine by using syrups or sauces. Dip a spoon in caramel or chocolate, and then fill it with medicine. Some parents recommend putting the crushed medicine into a dollop or ice cream, frosting.

Give your child the opportunity to make a decision. Giving your child the ability to control one aspect of the situation will make her more open to participation. Giving your child a simple choice like “Do you want to drink orange juice or grape juice with your medicine?”This can help children feel more at peace.

– Make a “medicine schedule.”You can choose a time and place that your child will take their medication. Set a time and place for your child to take his or her medication. “medicine chart”Allow your child to fill out the chart every time they take medicine.

– You can pretend to be a doctor. You can have your child pretend to be a doctor and prepare and administer medications. They will be able to better understand the process and make medication sessions more fun.

Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.children-cancer.org.