How can I get my school-age child to take medicine?

Kids ages five to eleven often want to be in control, so let them hold the dispenser. (Just make sure to supervise.) Often another form can be substituted for medication that comes in pills -- a liquid, a chewable form, or an “instant” dissolving tab that can be placed right on the tongue. If there’s not an alternative form, sometimes pills can be crushed and added to applesauce or another soft food -- but check on that first as it could alter the med’s effectiveness.

From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.