TinyStepper
Parent and child clapping hands together mid-nursery-rhyme on a rug

Open Wide for Teddy's Dentist

A pretend dental visit where your toddler brushes and counts teddy's teeth, making real appointments less scary.

Activity details

2y–4y10 minslowindoorStuffed Animals

Instructions

Get ready
  • Set up a 'dentist chair' — a cushion on the floor or a small chair
  • Sit teddy in the chair and give your toddler a clean toothbrush
  1. Set up a 'dentist chair' — a cushion on the floor or a small chair
  2. Sit teddy in the chair and give your toddler a clean toothbrush
  3. 'Can you open teddy's mouth? Let's count the teeth!'
  4. Count together as your toddler points at teddy's mouth
  5. 'Now brush very gently — get the ones at the back!'
  6. Narrate: 'At the real dentist, they use a tiny mirror to see inside'
  7. Finish with 'All clean! Teddy has sparkly teeth!'
  8. Give teddy a sticker for being a brave patient

Parent tip

Set out stuffed animals before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Parent and child sitting face-to-face laughing together in a warm shared moment

What success looks like

Back-and-forth between you — words, gestures, shared pretend. Connection is the real outcome here.

Your toddler becomes the dentist and teddy is the patient. Using a clean toothbrush, they gently brush teddy's teeth, count them, and check for 'sugar bugs.' You narrate what happens at a real dentist: the big chair, the bright light, the mirror that looks inside your mouth. The activity ties directly into teeth brushing familiarity — if they can do it for teddy, they understand the process for themselves too.

From our family

This one works a charm. My son is so comfortable with dental role play that when we took his 18-month-old sister to a vaccine appointment recently, he was distraught — not about the clinic, but because he wanted the dentist to look at his teeth. Being in a health building was enough to prompt it. That’s the kind of confidence this activity builds.

Why it helps

The EYFS framework places consistent routines and predictable transitions at the heart of supporting young children's emotional security and self-regulation. Dental anxiety in toddlers is extremely common and often stems from the unfamiliar sensations — lying back, opening wide, having someone's hands in their mouth. By practising these elements through play, your toddler experiences them in a context where they are in control. The counting element adds cognitive engagement, and the connection to daily brushing reinforces that teeth care is a normal, manageable routine.

Variations

  • Use a small hand mirror so your toddler can check teddy's teeth like a real dentist.
  • Play the game the morning of a real dental appointment to rehearse what will happen.
  • Let your toddler wear a 'dentist outfit' — a white t-shirt and a paper mask.

Safety tips

  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and supervise to prevent poking.
  • Ensure the toothbrush used on teddy is clean but designated as a 'toy' brush, not used for real brushing.
  • If your toddler is nervous about dentist play, keep it light and follow their comfort level.

Want to try another?

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