Teaching children good health practices includes teaching them about medicines. The more they know about medicines, the more prepared they are for independent and responsible use as they get older. Children need medicine information on two levels. First, they want to have their questions answered about how medicines work and, that most often asked question, “How will it taste?” Second, they need to learn some key behaviors related to the use of medicines.

What do children want to know?
Children usually get their medicine information from family, friends, and advertisements (in stores and publications, and on television.) When asked, children say they want to learn about medicines from trusted sources such as their physician, teachers, or parents. As a parent, caregiver, or teacher, you can encourage children to ask their health care practitioner about medicines and help children prepare appropriate questions. For example:

• What will my medicine taste like?
• When do I have to take it?
• How will it make me feel better?
• How long do I have to take it?
• Will it be pills, liquid, or shots?
• Does it have side effects?
• Why do I HAVE to take it?

What should you teach children to do?
Take the right medicine, at the right time, in the right amount. READ THE DIRECTIONS with the child.

• Take all of the medicine prescribed even if the child feels better. This is especially important when taking antibiotics.
• Encourage the child to report any unexpected side effects or reactions to an adult who can call a health care professional.
• Participate in health education activities that teach the principles of responsible medicine use.
• Encourage the child to tell an adult if a medicine poisoning is suspected so the local poison center can be notified as soon as possible.

Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
Most of all, as an adult, set an example of proper and safe medicine use by taking medicines only when necessary, by treating medicines seriously, and by storing medicines out of reach and sight of young children.