What can I use for the scanner card?

Any small stiff card, folded note, or scrap of cardstock works if your child can flip it easily after the still count. Keep it simple, visible, and in the same spot by the entrance each round.

How big should the tunnel be?

Use a box or cardboard tunnel just wide enough for teddy on the folded towel to slide through without snagging. If the sides cave in or the setup starts inviting body play, the tunnel is too flimsy or too big for this routine.

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Toddler sliding a teddy on a towel through a cardboard MRI tunnel while a scanner card waits beside the entrance.

Skill builderSensory-friendly supportPause Before ActionIndoor

Teddy MRI Tunnel.

Set the tunnel down, flatten the towel under teddy, do 1 short `teddy in, stay still, scan done` round, let your child flip the scanner card, and end there.

A teddy-first pretend MRI turns one short still count into a calm practice loop before the real scan.

Skill builderSensory-friendly supportPause Before ActionIndoor

Teddy MRI Tunnel.

A teddy-first pretend MRI turns one short still count into a calm practice loop before the real scan.

Play time

5-10+ min

Age

2-3 years

Energy

Low

Mess

Low

Effort

Low

Where

Indoor

Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort

5 things

What you need

1 small teddy bear or stuffed animal
1 medium cardboard box or cardboard tunnel with both ends open
1 small towel or folded cloth
1 scanner card
1 calm indoor floor spot

5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop

Step 01

On a calm indoor floor spot, place the cardboard tunnel with both ends open and steady.

Step 02

At the front opening, slide the folded towel partly into the tunnel so the front end stays flat at the entrance like a bed for teddy.

Step 03

At the tunnel entrance, place teddy on the towel and set the scanner card beside the opening where your child can reach it after the still count.

Step 04

Beside your child at the front opening, sit close enough to show one slow scan turn and keep the towel flat if teddy catches.

Step 05

On the setup, check that the tunnel edges feel smooth, the box does not sag or tip, and teddy can slide in one calm motion.

"Teddy goes in."

The loop

How play unfolds.

Multi-panel sequence showing teddy at the tunnel entrance, a child sliding teddy inside, a short still count, a scanner card flip, and teddy reset for another round.

1
Set teddy on the towel at the tunnel entrance and say `Teddy goes in.`
2
Let your child push or pull the towel so teddy slides into the tunnel.
3
Say `Stay still` for a slow `1, 2, 3` while teddy is inside, then help teddy slide out and let your child flip the scanner card.
4
Return teddy to the entrance and repeat for another short scan, or stop after 1 calm finished round.

01
Set teddy on the towel at the tunnel entrance and say `Teddy goes in.`
02
Let your child push or pull the towel so teddy slides into the tunnel.
03
Say `Stay still` for a slow `1, 2, 3` while teddy is inside, then help teddy slide out and let your child flip the scanner card.
04
Return teddy to the entrance and repeat for another short scan, or stop after 1 calm finished round.

Safety Check

Keep the tunnel teddy-only so your child does not crawl into the cardboard scanner.
Stop if the cardboard edges feel rough, the box sags inward, or the tunnel tips while hands are near the openings.
Keep the still count short and optional. End after one calm finished round instead of turning the pause into pressure or forced restraint.

Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder

Level 1 (Start)

"Send teddy through the tunnel."

Level 2 (Keep going)

"Now make teddy stay still."

Level 3 (Stretch)

"Do the whole scan turn."

Level 4 (Extend)

"Give teddy one last calm scan."

If your child seems...

What you'd see

Focused

What to do

Say

"You did in, still, done."

Add

Ask, "What comes next?" after one finished round.

Extend

Let your child choose one more scan or all done.

Make it easier

Younger end

-Keep teddy at the tunnel entrance between rounds so every turn starts from the same spot.
-Use a shorter still count like `1, 2` instead of `1, 2, 3`.
-Rest the scanner card against the front corner of the box so the finish move is easy to spot.

Make it harder

Older end

+Pause after "Teddy goes in" and wait to see whether your child starts the still count without another cue.
+Ask your child to keep teddy halfway inside for one extra beat before the card flip.
+Let your child reset teddy, the towel edge, and the scanner card for the next round with lighter adult help.

If it's not working

If you see

If child ignores it

Do one teddy turn yourself, keep only the scanner-card flip or the teddy push as your child's job, and stop after that first shared success.

If you see

If child misuses it

Move the scanner card back beside the entrance, point to teddy, say "Teddy's turn first," and hold the card until after the still count if it keeps flipping too early.

If you see

If child gets frustrated

Shorten the round to one small slide in, one short count, and one card flip, then say "Teddy is all done" and stop.

Skill spotlight

Pause Before Action

Holding still long enough for one calm pretend scan

This helps your child hold one short pause inside a simple care routine, wait for the finish cue, and stay calmer with a new medical sequence.

•Teddy goes through the tunnel instead of your child, so the MRI sequence stays easier to watch, talk about, and stop.
•The short still count gives your child practice waiting for a finish cue without stretching the pause too long.
•The scanner card flip gives a visible `done` moment after the quiet count.
•Resetting teddy to the same entrance each round keeps the order predictable for children who do better with repetition.

Real-world transfer

Waiting through one short care step before hearing "all done"
Staying with a first-then-finished routine during scans, photos, or simple checkups
Using pretend play to make a new medical sequence feel more familiar