Being wheeled into an operating room is a stressful experience for everyone. The Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel has now decided to try and alleviate that anxiety among its youngest patients by pushing them in pedal cars.

The new service got underway this week and hospital staff says the fun ride not only reduces pressure but also improves the ambiance leading up to the operation.

“The idea is to connect the children with their world, to reduce tension and to bring a smile to their faces,” says Orli Refael, head nurse in the hospital’s operating room.