Kids explore; parents learn
Staff writer
Friday’s Big Trucks Night brought exploration activities for children and information about child and family-related subjects for parents.
Children happily scrambled to explore trucks, tractors, fire engines, police cruisers, a co-op tanker truck, a concrete truck, a school bus, an ambulance, and other trucks brought by owners for them to see.
They climbed into driver’s seats and pretended to drive or merely looked at switches, pedals, and steering wheels. They honked horns and got to sit in the seats of backhoes and pretend to operate them.
Hillsboro police officers handed out child identification kits that included DNA swabs, coloring books, police badge stickers, pens, and candy.
Meanwhile, officers talked to parents about the importance of ID kits and taking a DNA swab. If the parents have to report a child missing, the kits and swabs could provide important details.
Hillsboro firefighters handed out plastic fire helmets.
Midway Motors gave away Matchbook cars.
Service agencies had information booths. Among them were Harvey and Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization, Families and Communities Together, Head Start, Kansas Children’s Service League, Infant Toddler Services, Hillsboro Community Hospital and clinic, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Flint Hills Electric Cooperative, United Way, and Hillsboro Community Child Care Center.