My toddler son loves playing with his toy vehicles, particularly fire engines, garbage trucks, police cars, ambulances and trains.

So when not one, but two fire trucks rolled up to our friend’s nursing home as we were celebrating Christmas, my husband realised it was a fabulous opportunity to let him have a close look at the real deal.

Code Red

The firies graciously greeted the tiny tot and gifted a fold-up fire truck money box along with some stickers of Blazer the Koala Firefighter. (There is a rural fire truck version as well.)

It was a red-letter day for our little man, and he has had friendly encounters with our local firemen too. One even let him and daddy sit inside the cab, and extended an invitation for us to visit the fire station.

The Queensland Fire Department has various teaching resources about fire safety, calibrated for different age groups.

Boys in Blue

When Dad and son met some police officers during a shopping trip, they too had a koala-themed sticker for the excited child.

My husband usually greets all and sundry with a friendly hello, which elicits positive responses. A policewoman we met at a sushi joint even turned on her flashing lights just for our son as she pulled away from the store!

The Queensland Police have a book all about Australian police vehicles for the budding aficionado.

City Slickers

During a recent trip to the library, our eagle-eyed son spotted a foldable garbage (recycling) truck perched on the librarian’s computer. The librarian said they had run out of those, but she gave us two Brisbane Metro train templates, “One for each child so they won’t fight.”

We popped over to the city council office next door and obtained the recycling trucks, along with some other freebies like alphabet and number learning charts. I wish they still had the foldable CityCat available, too!

Has your child met a firefighter, police officer, paramedic, garbage truck driver, ferry operator or train driver? Saying hi to one of these essential workers might lead to a splendid encounter (with fun souvenirs) and facilitate a learning experience about the services they render our community. Also, perhaps, in time of need, your child will feel more comfortable approaching them for assistance.

___

Image courtesy of Adobe.