It’s common to see small children form interests in toy cars, trucks and trains.
Pushing the small vehicles along and adding their own sound effects stimulates their senses as they mimic what they’ve seen and heard.
Now, local children will be able to enjoy the excitement of interacting with life-sized vehicles — including firetrucks, boats, construction trucks and others — during the free “Touch a Truck” event from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 11 at the Wildwood Community Center, 6500 Powell Road, Wildwood.
During the signature event, which has been held in Wildwood for three years, children will have the chance to climb inside the vehicles and honk it’s horn as they ask questions to experts to learn more about the machines.
For those with sensory sensitivities, there will be a silent hour from 9 to 10 a.m.
Jamie Cluckey, recreation specialist for the City of Wildwood, said the event gives children who can’t normally see the vehicles up close, the chance to see inside and the workings of the vehicle.
There are also set to be swat vehicles and a helicopter, provided by the Sumter County Sherrif’s office, at the event.
“We enjoy working with the youth and showing them the different vehicles we use,” said Beth Hunt, community outreach coordinator for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. “Most kids have a fascination with any of the vehicles we bring, but especially anything we do a helicopter.”
Along with interacting with the various vehicles on display during the event, the youth will have the chance to interact with special guests — “Bluey” and her sister “Bingo”, the Blue and Red Heeler puppies from the animated children’s show “Bluey.”
“We just want the kids to be happy with living in Wildwood by providing affordable and engaging activities to participate in during a difficult economy,” Cluckey said. “Seeing the kids’ faces light up as while they look at the vehicles, that is the joy that we try to achieve with the event.”
Previous “Touch A Truck” events drew between 1,500 and 2,000 total visitors as entire families came out to enjoy the event.
Denise Beckham, certified occupation therapist assistant and clinic manager of the First Step Therapy, along with Stephanie Tatem-Paige, an occupational therapist at the children therapy office in Leesburg, both said they’ve seen consistent interest in cars in their young patients, often offering toy box cars to their patients to play with as a reward.
“I find that they become so fascinated with the cars because they are colorful and not visually overstimulating,” Tatem-Paige said.
Beckham said that the Wildwood event sounds like an enjoyable time for most children and a great development opportunity for some.
“In some cases, it just ties this whole thing together. It will help them think outside the box and understand the tangibility of about the vehicles,” she said.
Added Tatem-Paige: “I think what will be great that they will get to interact with the trucks fully. This will open them up to a new experience in something they already have an interest in.”
For more information about the free event, visit wildwood-fl.gov or call 352-461-0134.
Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
