Pip's Big Scanner

Pip the otter is visiting the big scanner today, and your child gets to help. Made for children aged 4 to 12 at Maplewood Children's Hospital, this short, calm game shows what an MRI visit looks and sounds like before the real day comes.

Pip lies on the scanner bed and plays musical statues. Your child rests a finger on the glowing star to help Pip stay still while the scanner takes its pictures. Along the way they meet the scanner's noises, try cozy helpers, practise slow breaths, and finish with a picture of Pip's insides and a sticker.

How to play

Press Play and follow Pip. Each step is one short card with a Next button, so your child can go at their own pace. A full visit takes only a few minutes.

• Meet Pip and the big scanner
• When Pip lies down, hold the glowing star to help Pip stay still
• Watch the ring fill up: each still moment finishes one picture
• If the finger slips, Pip just waits until it comes back to the star
• Listen to each scanner noise and find out what it sounds like
• Tap the helpers: headphones, a warm blanket, and a grown-up nearby
• Breathe slowly with the flower and the bubble
• Collect all four pictures to see Pip's insides and get a sticker

What children practise

Lying still for a little while, in four short rounds that get gently longer (about 10 to 20 seconds each).

Hearing the scanner's sounds ahead of time: a knock like a woodpecker, a buzz like a busy bee and a hum like a purring cat, each with a Listen button to hear it again.

Calming ideas they can use on the day: music, a warm blanket, a grown-up close by, and slow breaths.

For parents, nurses and child life specialists

Pip's Big Scanner is meant to be played together before a visit, at home or in the waiting area. There is nothing to lose: no timers to beat, no scores and no way to fail. The colours are soft, the glow never flashes, and the music fades back while a scanner sound plays so it is easy to hear.

No ads. No sign-up or accounts. No links out of the game. The game collects no personal information.

The sound button turns everything off, and the home button opens a calm pause screen.

Controls

Touch or mouse

Tap buttons; press and hold the glowing star

Keyboard

Hold Space or Enter to hold the star; Enter on buttons; Esc or P to pause; M for sound on and off

Gamepad

Hold A (or a shoulder button) to hold the star; D-pad or stick to choose; Start to pause; Back for sound

Features

• A calm, step-by-step look at an MRI visit
• Hold-the-star game to practise lying still
• Friendly names for the scanner's knock, buzz and hum
• Cozy helpers: music, a warm blanket, a grown-up nearby
• Slow-breathing practice with a flower and a bubble
• A picture of Pip's insides and a sticker at the end
• No scores, no timers to beat, no way to fail
• Soft colours and gentle glows that never flash
• Works on phones, tablets and computers, upright or sideways
• No ads, no accounts, no links out