For the grownup

How to prepare a toddler for the dentist

This free Wonder Situations pack is a printable, parent-led story for checkup day (ages 3–8). Read it the night before or the morning of a dentist visit so a young child knows the steps: you walk in together, you wait together, and you stay together.

What the pack actually walks through

  1. 1.Arrive as a pair. A dentist is a helper who looks at teeth with a tiny mirror and a light — not someone who is mad at the child.
  2. 2.Wait in the quiet room first. Holding a hand, looking at a book, or taking slow breaths is part of the visit, not a surprise before the chair.
  3. 3.The special chair can go up, down, and lean back. When it moves, the grownup stays beside it.
  4. 4.A bright light and a tiny round mirror look at each tooth. The child can open like a sleepy lion, then rest.
  5. 5.A small brush may tickle; water may spray. If it feels too much, raise a hand and pause. Tickle is a feeling, not a trick.
  6. 6.When the visit is finished, say thank you and walk out the same door together. Brave means staying and trying, not liking every part.

Practice the sleepy-lion mouth open in a mirror for five seconds, then rest, three rounds. Keep language concrete. Do not promise "it won't hurt" as a blanket line — say what will happen and how the child can signal for a pause.

Wonder Together

Wonder Situations · Parent-led pack

Going to the Dentist

A calm, page-by-page story for checkup day.

Ages 3–8 · The night before or morning of a dental visit.

Field-guide scene: Going to the Dentist

A read-aloud story. Words to try. Room for your child.

Read it first. Keep what feels right.

The first parent page

Start before the busy moment.

Choose a quiet time to look at the story together. Let your child point, ask, or simply listen.

The night before or morning of a dental visit.

Page 1 of 6

Field-guide scene: Today we go to the dentist

Today we go to the dentist

A dentist is a helper who looks at teeth with a tiny mirror and a light. They check how teeth are growing and help keep them strong. We walk to the door together, and we stay together.

Point together

  • The door we walk through as a pair.
  • Big Wonderer stays close the whole visit.
  • The helper inside looks at teeth, not at you being in trouble.

Page 2 of 6

Field-guide scene: We wait together

We wait together

First we sit in a quiet waiting room. You can hold a hand, look at a book, or take slow breaths. Waiting is part of the visit — the chair comes after we sit together.

Point together

  • Two chairs side by side.
  • A book you can hold while we wait.
  • Waiting is a step, not a surprise.

Page 3 of 6

Field-guide scene: The chair goes up

The chair goes up

You sit in a special chair. It can go up, down, and lean back so the helper can see. When the chair moves, I stay right here beside you.

Point together

  • The chair can lean.
  • The up-and-down cue on the base.
  • Your grownup stands beside the chair.

Page 4 of 6

Field-guide scene: A bright light and a tiny mirror

A bright light and a tiny mirror

The dentist uses a bright light and a tiny round mirror to look at each tooth. You can open your mouth like a sleepy lion, then rest. The light is so they can see, not so they can surprise you.

Point together

  • The small round mirror.
  • The light aimed at teeth.
  • Open, look, then rest.

Page 5 of 6

Field-guide scene: A soft clean

A soft clean

A small brush may tickle your teeth. Water may spray a little. If it feels too much, raise your hand — we pause. Tickle is a feeling, not a trick.

Point together

  • The small cleaning brush.
  • Raised hand means pause.
  • Tickle is a feeling, not a surprise.

Page 6 of 6

Field-guide scene: All done

All done

When the visit is finished, we say thank you and walk out together. You stayed and tried. Your teeth got care today. Brave means staying and trying, not liking every part.

Point together

  • We walk out together.
  • The same door we came in.
  • Brave means staying and trying.

Keep these pages for you

Grownup pages

Parent script

  • Tonight we're going to read about the dentist so your body knows what to expect.
  • You can hold my hand the whole time if you want.
  • If you need a break, raise your hand and we'll pause.
  • Afterward we can do something small and cozy together.

Try it together

Practice the 'sleepy lion' mouth open in a mirror for 5 seconds, then rest. Do three rounds.

Parent note

Keep language concrete. Avoid 'it won't hurt' as a blanket promise — say what will happen and how they can signal for a pause.