How to stay healthy during cold and flu season: Helping kids with medications

When flu season strikes, parents face numerous challenges: managing sick days, comforting cranky children, and addressing symptoms. One common yet daunting task during this time is helping kids take their medications without resistance. If you’ve ever struggled with this, you’re not alone! In a recent episode of the Parenting Issues podcast, child life specialist Carissa Menard shared actionable strategies to turn medication battles into smoother experiences. Carissa is an expert at Hearts Connected - a virtual mental health service, specializing in helping families navigate medical challenges and everyday parenting struggles. In this insightful discussion, she offered practical tips every parent can use. You can listen to the full episode here.

Why do kids resist taking medicine

Understanding why kids resist medications is the first step toward finding solutions. According to Carissa, kids often dislike medicine because of its taste, texture, or fear of the unknown. Additionally, many children may feel like they’ve lost control in the situation. Acknowledging these feelings and addressing their concerns can help pave the way for success.

Strategies to make medication time stress-free

Here are some effective techniques to help parents turn a frustrating task into a manageable routine:

Provide choices

Allow kids to feel more in control by offering small decisions, such as choosing between a spoon or a cup or deciding whether to take their medicine in two minutes or five.

Incorporate distractions

Pair medication time with something enjoyable, like a favorite show, game, or song. Special incentives, such as limited screen time, can also be motivating.

Use simple education

Explain why the medication is necessary in simple terms. For example: “This medicine will help your scratchy throat feel better.” For younger kids, use play to teach the importance of taking medicine, such as pretending to medicate a stuffed animal.

Mask the flavour

Get creative with disguising the taste of medicine! Mix liquid medications with applesauce, juice, or even ice cream. For crushed pills, cookie sandwiches or nut butter can work wonders. Just ensure you check with a pharmacist before mixing medications.

Model the behaviour

Children learn by observing. Demonstrate the process with a stuffed animal or doll, showing them that medicine can help. Encourage kids to engage with the play scenario, fostering understanding and comfort.

Staying calm when kids resist

Despite the best efforts, some children may still refuse medication. In these situations, Carissa advises:

• Stay calm and patient
• Break the task into smaller steps, like letting your child hold or smell the medicine first
• Use positive reinforcement, such as sticker charts or extra storytime, to celebrate small victories
• Consistency is key - stick to a predictable routine to build familiarity over time

Supporting emotional well-being during illness

Illness can take an emotional toll on children. Beyond physical symptoms, it’s crucial to address their emotional needs:

• Validate their feelings and reassure them that being sick isn’t their fault
• Provide comfort through extra cuddles, stories, or creative activities
• Make them feel secure and loved, turning a stressful time into a bonding opportunity

Conclusion

Flu season can be a challenging time for parents, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to turn medication struggles into manageable moments.

For families seeking additional guidance, Carissa Menard and the team of Hearts Connected provide expert support to navigate medical challenges with confidence. Their services include procedure preparation, sibling support, and parent education, tailored to empower parents and kids alike. For more resources, visit their website.