Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
If you’re a grandparent, you know that kids are naturally curious. They love to explore, ask questions, and learn about the world around them. One event that’s perfect for satisfying that curiosity is “Touch a Truck,” a fun and educational experience that lets kids get up close and personal with all kinds of vehicles they usually only see from afar.
Touch a Truck is a community event where kids can touch, explore and learn about various types of trucks and vehicles. It’s an interactive experience that brings together vehicles from different professions, such as construction, emergency services, transportation, and more. The events are held all over Northeast Ohio, often in parking lots of malls, schools, or community centers. They are usually free or low-cost, making it an accessible activity for families. Lights, sirens and horns will be silenced during the first hour of some of these events to create a sensory friendly version!
The star attractions at Touch a Truck are, of course, the vehicles. You’ll find a diverse range of trucks and cars, including:
Construction vehicles: Dump trucks, cement mixers, excavators, and cranes. Kids can climb aboard, honk the horns, and learn how these machines build our roads and buildings.
Emergency vehicles: Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, Kids can meet firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, and learn about their important work keeping us safe. Touch a Truck events give kids the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seats of different vehicles and pretend they are on a mission!
Service vehicles: Garbage trucks, mail trucks, delivery vans. These are the vehicles we see every day, but rarely get to explore inside.
Specialty vehicles: Depending on the event, you might find a military tank, a race car, or even a helicopter!
Your grandkids can have the opportunity to meet the people who operate these vehicles every day, asking questions and learning about their jobs. Also, some vehicles might give demonstrations of their capabilities, like a fire truck spraying water or a crane lifting heavy objects. One year, one of the kids had a lift ride up to the trees!
Going to a Touch a Truck event is a great learning experience plus fun, but go prepared. There usually is not a lot of shade in the parking lots where these are located, so bring sunscreen and hats. There’s also not many places to sit (unless you go aboard a truck!) so wear comfortable shoes, bring along a camping chair and bring a stroller or wagon for the little ones. The kids will be running, climbing and exploring, so make sure they have sturdy shoes.
Food trucks are usually present, but I also pack some snacks to munch on in case lines are long. Also bring water for everyone. Try to arrive early as lines get longer as it gets later. Don’t forget your camera. You’ll want to capture the excitement and memories of the day!
Where to go? Some of the events in Northeast Ohio include:
June 1st In Lakewood, Meet the Trucks at Lakewood Park, and Strongsville at the Cleveland Metroparks Chalet will host a Touch a Truck at their Duck Race and Kids Fest.
June 8th in Talmadge (10-12) will host a Touch a Truck at the Talmadge Recreation Center, as well as in Medina at the Medina County Fairgrounds. (12-3)
June 9th in Westlake at Crocker Park, there will be a Crocker Block Party featuring a Touch a Truck.
June 14th The North Olmsted Parks and Recreation is having a Touch a Truck event at their Rec Center parking lot, from 11-2.
June 15th in Canton a Touch a Truck Extravaganza will be held at Central Catholic High School in West Canton. (10-1)
June 24th A Touch a Truck in Akron at Mogadore Jr/Sr High School parking lots
Touch a Truck is a unique event that combines fun and education, letting kids engage with the vehicles they see every day but don’t often get to touch. With its interactive nature, community feel, and variety of vehicles, it’s an event that’s sure to delight both you and your grandchildren. So, mark your calendars, grab the kids, and get ready for a truck-tastic time!
Photos by Karen Shadrach
