Everyone knows at least one child whose eyes light up every time a fire truck passes by, wishing they could climb in and play with the horns and sirens to their heart’s content. Well, this Labour Day weekend they’ll have the chance to do just that, at the 5th annual Touch a Truck event in Moose Jaw.

“We are really excited to announce the wonderful community event for the fifth year,” said Wanda Peakman, Coordinator at the Moose Jaw Early Years Family Resource Centre. “It is a family event for children ages 0-8, with their moms and dads or caregivers, to come and have an interactive hands-on experience where they can connect with vehicles that keep our community moving and meet the everyday heroes that operate them.”

Older siblings are also welcome to attend the event, which takes place Saturday, September 5 from 11 AM to 2:30 PM at Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw. 1st Ave will be blocked off for the duration of the event in order to enjoy activities both inside and out.

Some of the soon-to-be-touched vehicles include a Zamboni, fire trucks, police cars, Moose Jaw Search and Rescue and EMS vehicles, a Western Development Museum car, school buses,  and the new addition of a Canada Post truck.

“It’s always fun to see the kids sit on the Zamboni, or the fire trucks are really popular with the kiddos,” Peakman said. “I love when a little kiddo gets in the police car and works the radio. Or they put their mom and dad in the back seat and they’re in the front.”

Since the fire trucks can only be off site for a maximum of two hours at a time, they will be there from 11-1.

The organizers of Touch a Truck are always open to adding new trucks and other vehicles, and Peakman encourages any business or organization with a “cool vehicle” or heavy machinery that they don’t mind being handled by eager children, to register.

The idea of the event is to combine elements of literacy with the Touch a Truck aspect to help kids and their families learn while having fun.

“There are books that we give away, but really it’s all about just communication every day with their families that foster and encourage that speech and language development,” Peakman explained.

All of the vehicles will be manned by “heroes,” the men and women who use them to keep the community of Moose Jaw running smoothly. The heroes will engage with the little ones and answer any questions they might have about the equipment, their professions or anything else that springs to mind.

“So this even becomes really impactful for not only family engagement but communication, language development and just learning and growing,” Peakman said.

Through feedback from previous years, Peakman has been delighted to hear that the play often continues long after the event wraps up.

“Families will share with me that they were now playing Touch a Truck at home. So again, it’s supporting that literacy development, and it’s in their own little play world, so that’s really neat.”

Understanding that some truck lovers might be overwhelmed by the cacophony of different sounds, organizers encourage guests to bring noise cancelling headphones if needed, and there will also be a ‘sensory sensitive time,’ from 1:30 to 2:30, during which all sirens, horns and lights will be turned off. The quiet time is longer than previous years due to feedback they’ve received from parents over the years.

The event will also feature a concession and play experience inside the rink, where families can also learn more about and receive a number of free goodies from the resource centre and the other local organizations that helped make the event possible: Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, Moose Jaw Public Library, Moose Jaw Literacy Network and Temple Gardens Centre.

Peakman personally hopes to shed some light on the multitude of benefits the Early Years Family Resource Centre has to offer to the community of Moose Jaw.

The centre provides free services for little ones all the way from prenatal to five years of age, and their families, specializing in four areas: learning, family well-being, parent education and resources and referrals.

Some of the most popular programs include the Moms for Moms group, where moms can measure and weigh their babies and connect with other mothers, and similar program for dads and dad figures.

“Dads are important too, so we offer them a safe place to meet other dads in a really playful way,” Peakman added.

The centre also offers drop-in play from 9-4 on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-6 on Tuesdays and some Saturdays as well.

“So we’re sort of the early years hub of Moose Jaw,” Peakman said. (For) any family that’s looking for a resource or just a connection or just to talk with other adults, this is a great place to come.”

By Annie Savage

Moose Jaw Express