LEGO MRI Scanner set is helping millons of kids stay calm during hospital scans

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The LEGO MRI Scanner building set has been used by over a million children globally, and recent research demonstrates it’s helping to ease anxieties during medical scans.

A recent LEGO report shows that 96% of doctors and nurses believe the LEGO MRI set helps calm children before medical procedures. Almost half of those surveyed also reported needing less sedation or anesthesia for their young patients.

I was so excited to hear about this! It’s a LEGO MRI scanner, and what’s really cool is it was created as a passion project, relying entirely on donations. It actually *works* – you can move the scanner and bed, and it comes with little LEGO doctors and staff. But the best part? Hospitals are using it to help kids understand what an MRI is like *before* they have one! They can play it out with the LEGO set, which takes away a lot of the fear and makes the whole experience much less scary. It’s such a clever and thoughtful idea.

LEGO MRI scanner help reduce stress in hospitals

Launched in 2023, this project has already provided over 10,000 sets to hospitals around the world. A survey of over 430 healthcare professionals in 13 countries revealed that 95% feel it makes families’ hospital stays better.

Hospitals in Denmark, the United States, and the UK are finding success with a new approach to medical scans for children. Staff at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark report that some children are now able to have scans without anesthesia, which speeds up the process and is safer. Similar hospitals have noted that introducing this new method immediately creates a more positive environment.

According to Traci Aoki-Tan, a Child Life Specialist at Kaiser Permanente Roseville, children are immediately excited when they see the LEGO MRI scanner model. It really lifts their spirits and even helps calm anxious parents – you can see them visibly relax.

Although you can’t buy the LEGO MRI Scanner directly, it’s still being delivered to hospitals worldwide thanks to partnerships with groups like Fairy Bricks, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and United Way.

I’ve been noticing LEGO is really getting into health and wellness stuff, which is cool. It’s awesome to see they’re showing how just playing with LEGOs can actually have a positive impact on you, way beyond just being a fun toy. It’s like, it’s more than just building stuff – it can actually make a difference!

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2025-10-15 15:49