(HealthDay News) -- It's often a challenge to convince kids to take much-needed medicine when they're sick.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to make medicine more palatable for children:

• Refrigerate liquid medicines before giving them to a child.
• If the doctor or pharmacist says it's ok, mix the medication with a bit of juice or pudding.
• Ask your pharmacist to mix flavoring into the medication before you take it home.
• Explain to the child that the medicine will help him or her feel better.