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A toddler and grown-up sitting with a teddy bear, using a toy medicine syringe for one gentle pretend shot before adding a sticker.
Skill builderCopy Then Try`Indoor

Teddy Vaccine Sticker.

Turn vaccine preparation into one short Teddy-doctor rehearsal. Your child copies a pretend shot, adds a sticker, and practices holding still through one brief count.

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 teddy bear or stuffed toy
  • 1 toy medicine syringe or 1 capped marker with no sharp parts
  • 1 small sticker or bandage sticker
  • 1 adult
  • 1 child
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Sit Teddy upright with one arm easy to reach.
Step 02
Put one needle-free toy medicine syringe or capped marker and one sticker beside Teddy.
Teddy first.
The loop

How play unfolds.

A three-panel sequence showing a grown-up modeling a pretend teddy shot, a toddler copying the shot, and both pausing for a short still-body count after the sticker.
  1. 01
    Tell your child Teddy will practice first. Gently tap Teddy's arm with the toy medicine syringe or capped marker, then let your child copy one tap.
  2. 02
    Let your child press the sticker onto Teddy's arm or shirt.
  3. 03
    Say, "Now you practice holding still." Count slowly to three while your child keeps their body still, then say, "All done."

Safety Check

  • Use only a needle-free medicine syringe or another clearly safe pretend tool.
  • Keep the pretend shot on the teddy only, and stay close enough to guide the tool the whole time.
Skill spotlight
Copy Then Try`

Copying a short care-play turn after a model

Copying a short care-play turn helps a child take a turn after another person, stay with a simple "tap, sticker, hold still" routine, and handle brief body-care moments with less surprise.

  • •One pretend shot, one sticker, and one short still-body pause make vaccine-prep play feel short and predictable.
  • •The sticker gives your child a clear payoff after the tap, so the full routine is easier to finish.
  • •The shot-sticker-still sequence connects "your turn" and "hold still" to one concrete care-play pattern.
Real-world transfer
  • Copying short care steps during shots, bandage play, or other quick body-care routines
  • Hearing "hold still" or "your turn" during brief checkups or home care moments
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
Teddy gets one quick shot.
Level 2 (Keep going)
Your turn, then sticker.
Level 3 (Stretch)
This arm or that arm?
Level 4 (Extend)
Now you hold still.
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
Teddy is ready.
Add
Offer one simple choice about which teddy arm gets the shot.
Extend
Use one learning prompt like "Where is Teddy's arm?" only while your child stays with the routine easily.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use one easy-to-reach Teddy arm so your child does not have to choose a new spot.
  • -Peel the sticker edge up before the turn so your child only has to press it down after the tap.
  • -Make the still-body part just one count of "one" instead of a longer count.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Let your child choose Teddy's arm before the pretend shot.
  • +Wait one beat after your first words to see if your child starts the tap without help.
  • +Let your child place the pretend shot tool back beside Teddy before the still-body count.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Pull Teddy into your child's lap, do one quick adult Teddy shot, and offer one copy turn before you stop.
If you see
If child misuses it
Calmly take the pretend shot tool back, say "Shots are for Teddy," restart with one adult model turn, and end the activity if your child keeps aiming away from the teddy.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Let your child hold or squeeze the teddy close, help with one shared teddy shot using your hand over theirs, count the still-body turn together, and end after that one success.
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