Let the child choose which pill they want to swallow. Show the child how to swallow the pill by going through the steps as outlined above. Then encourage the child to swallow the pill themselves, reminding them of the steps. You can hold the child's chin gently in order to keep their head straight. A mirror may be useful to help show the child where to place the pill.
Social reinforcement is the primary reward for successful pill swallowing.
Rewards such as sweets, toys should not be used unless absolutely necessary. If the child has difficulties swallowing a pill, encourage the child to repeat the process with another pill of the same size before moving on to the next pill. The child can also teach the worker the correct way to take the pill. Both these moves will help increase their confidence. If the first or second pill cannot be swallowed on the first attempt, encourage the child to say, 'It's OK, I just need to keep trying'.