Will you begin to take your medications for your treatment by yourself for the first time? If that makes you anxious or nervous, that’s okay! This activity will help you become familiar with organizing your medications, learning about what they do and understanding why you need to take them.
Supplies:
Pill Organizer with AM/PM compartments
Assorted Beads
Construction Paper
Markers/Pencil/Pen
Activity Steps: Before you begin, make sure you are doing this activity on a clean and flat surface. For this activity, I will be using the beads to represent the pills. However, it may help if you use beads to do the activity first and then go back afterwards and do the activity with your medications. WHEN DOING THIS ACTIVITY WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS, ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR GUARDIAN OR A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE DOING THE STEPS CORRECTLY AND HAVE THEM DO THE ACTIVITY WITH YOU!
Step 1: First we will create a worksheet that will give us information about each of the pills we have to take. Gather your construction paper and whatever you choose to write and draw with. For this activity, the beads will represent the pills. I am going to use my markers to draw the pills on the worksheet and then write facts about each pill using my pencil. We will title our paper first. You can write your title wherever you would like on the paper. I am going to write the title in the middle so that when I put the pill container at the top of the sheet, all the facts will be under the container.
Step 2: Next, we will write down facts about the first medication. Advil is a pain management medication. Pain management medication helps you cope with the pain and can make the pain go away for a certain period of time. I am using a red bead for the Advil because the Advil but you can use whatever bead in any color and shape that you would like. For this pain medication, The Advil is supposed to be taken two times a day every 8 hours. You can pick the days and time for this first bead. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil.
Step 3: Next, we will put the red bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken two times a day everyday, I am going to put a red bead in every slot. Tip: (If you are doing this the second time around with your medications, sort the pills according to your prescription).
Step 4: Now, we will write about the next pill. Sudafed is a nasal decongestant medication. When you are congested, the blood vessels in your nose enlarge and fill with fluid. This medication shrinks the swollen blood vessels. For the Sudafed, I will use a bigger white bead but you can use whatever bead that you want for this step. The Sudafed is supposed to be taken once a week as needed. As needed means that you take the medicine until the symptoms go away and then you stop and if the symptoms come back, you start taking the medicine again. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil.
Step 5: Next, we will put the white bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken once a week in the morning, I am going to put it in the Sunday AM slot.
Step 6: Now, we will write about the next pill. Benadryl is an allergy relief medication. Allergies cause you to sneeze, cough, and can make your throat and eyes itchy. Benadryl helps relieve your symptoms. For the Benadryl, I will use a small pink bead but you can use whatever bead that you want for this step. The Benadryl is supposed to be taken once a day everyday for only one week. Some prescriptions written by the doctor will tell you to take some medications for a certain period of time and some will need to be taken for the rest of your life. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil.
Step 7: Next, we will put the pink bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken every day in the morning, I am going to put it in all the AM slots.
Step 8: Now, we will write about the next pill. Mucinex is a cough suppressant and expectorant. A cough suppressant helps to stop coughing. An expectorant helps clear mucus. For the Mucinex, I will use a yellow bead but you can use whatever bead that you want for this step. The Mucinex is supposed to be taken 2 times a day every twelve hours. So, one will be taken in the morning and one will be taken at night. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil.
Step 9: Next, we will put the yellow bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken twice a day everyday, I will put it in all the slots.
Step 10: Now we will write about the next pill, Robitussin is another cough suppressant and expectorant medication. Sometimes, if you have a bad cough, the doctor will prescribe more than one medication to help the cough go away. I will use a big spherical dark pink bead for this but you can use whatever bead that you want. The Robitussin is supposed to be taken three times a week at night only. Sometimes when a cough gets worse at night, the doctor will prescribe a medication to help specifically during the night. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil.
Step 11: Next, we will put the dark pink bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken three times a week at night, I will put it in the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday slots.
Step 12: Now, we will write about the last pill. Sinex is a sinus relief medication. Sinus relief medicine reduces sinus pressure and takes away the stuffiness feeling in your nose. I will use a small dark blue bread for this but you can use whatever bead that you want. The Sinex is supposed to be taken two times a week at night only. I am going to use my markers to draw the pill and write the facts next to it with my pencil. We’re almost done!
Step 13: Next, we will put the small blue bead in the pill container accordingly. Since it is supposed to be taken three times a week at night, I will put it in the Tuesday and Thursday slots.
Step 14: Now, place the pill organizer on top of the worksheet based on where you decided you will put it earlier. Since I wrote the title in the middle, I will put the organizer at the top of the sheet. Now, whenever you walk over to get your pills, the worksheet will be there to remind you what the medication does and how often it needs to be taken.
Your Pill Organizer is done! I hope you enjoyed organizing and learning about different medications. Be sure to clean up your area and put away all materials. Important Safety Reminder: if you are planning to do this activity again with your medications, have a guardian or medical professional complete this activity with you. Hopefully now you feel more comfortable beginning to take your medications by yourself and you are able to better understand why you have to take each medication. Now, whenever you have to take a new medication you can use the worksheet and organizer to learn about the medicine.
~ Made By: Danasia M.