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[quote=Anonymous]Okay but how do you force it if the child is literally clamping their mouth shut and deciding that the swab was not going in their mouth? Physically hold their jaw open?

Sounds like a massive power struggle that might not even work, would probably just make the situation worse, and would ultimately teach the opposite of the bodily autonomy that I really think kids need to learn.

I would try a logical approach, and if the kid still doesn't agree fine, wait a few days... if she gets sicker she'll probably agree to the test to start feeling better and if she starts feeling better without the meds she ultimately didn't need them. Reason with her to show her how to make medical decisions: "I know the strep test is uncomfortable and you don't like it, but the doctor can only give you medicine to make you feel better once we have this test so we know what you have. The throat swab will suck for a minute or so, but if it is strep then the antibiotics you get will make sure you don't get sicker and will help you start feeling better pretty quickly. Being sick is no fun; you basically have two options: this annoying test that will be uncomfortable but for a short time, or feeling sick like this for a long time and possibly even getting sicker because we don't know what you have and can't give you the right medicine. What do you think would be best to do?"

My 4 year old can usually be persuaded with similar logic, albeit in a shorter and more simplified explanation, and if not, there's value to learning to make one's own decisions.[/quote]

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