Milwaukee Magazine | MilMag Mini 2026

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WE’RE GOING TO MAKE A BOLD CLAIM – there’s no better place to grow up than Wisconsin! We have beautiful nature, awesome cities, fun museums and even the world’s largest talking cow. (Her name is Chatty Belle and you can read more about her on page 12).

There’s so much for kids to do around here that we decided all that cool stuff deserved its very own magazine. And that’s what you’re holding now – Milwaukee Magazine’s fourth annual edition of MilMag Mini, a magazine made just for you, with fun facts, interesting info, places to go and things to do. In these pages, you’ll learn about one Bucks player’s Lego collection, the best spots to grab frozen custard, where to find the troll in Wauwatosa and much more. You don’t have to read beginning to end – take a look below and turn straight to what looks most fun!

Contents Mini

MEET MAMA ROSA She’s more than 20 feet tall, made of recycled materials and lives in Wauwatosa. 4

WE WERE WONDERING Answering some big Milwaukee questions … like why it sometimes smells bad by the lake. 6

ICE CREAM VS. CUSTARD Which frozen treat is the best? 8

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE How many of these can you get right? 10

THE WORLD’S LARGEST Don’t miss these ginormous Wisconsin thingamajigs. 12

MUST-TRY BURGERS Here are some of the top spots for a delicious burger. 14

MYLES TURNER’S LEGO COLLECTION

The Bucks player has tens of thousands of Lego bricks. 16

PEEK INSIDE Check out places most people normally aren’t allowed to see. 18

PERFECT SATURDAYS Plan the greatest summer weekend ever with these suggestions. 20

WHAT DO YOU DO? Learn more about the coolest jobs in Milwaukee. 22

THE MILMAG KIDS CALENDAR Your mustdo events this summer – from festival fun to animal adventures and more. 26

WORD SEARCH Can you find them all? 28

Rosa Meet

Mama

DID YOU KNOW Wauwatosa has its very own troll? Mama Rosa lives in Firefly Grove Park. The sculpture is 24 feet tall and weighs a whopping 4,000 pounds. (That’s about as much as a whole car!). She was made by Thomas Dambo, an artist from Denmark in Europe, who used recycled wood that otherwise would have been thrown out. 1900 N. 116th St.

We Were Wondering...

Answering some of Milwaukee’s most interesting (and weirdest) questions

Why does it smell funny by the lake?

Have you ever been on the beach on a sunny day and caught a whiff of something a little … funky? It might just be Cladophora. That’s a type of algae that washes up on the shore in the summer. When it sits under the sun for a long time, it starts to really stink, and the smell spreads all across the lakeshore. Another possible culprit is Jones Island, which is right by the Hoan Bridge. It’s a “water reclamation facility,” which means it cleans up all the water (and other stuff) people flush down their toilets. That’s smelly work, and sometimes the resulting odor wafts around the city.

Where did the Domes come from?

Have you visited the Mitchell Park Domes?

Walking into the trio of structures is like stepping into a different part of the earth – they’re filled with plants and designed to mimic the climate of jungles and deserts. How did they get here? Well, in 1958 an architect named Donald Grieb came up with the design, but it took nearly 10 years to actually build them. They’re the world’s only “conoidal” – or cone-shaped – glass domes!

Milwaukee have a flag?

It actually has two! Why? It’s kind of a weird story. The city of Milwaukee has an official flag that was designed more than 70 years ago – but a lot of people don’t like it. So 10 years ago, there was a contest to design a different flag. An artist named Robert Lenz made one that’s way simpler – a sun rising over the lake – and it became very popular. But the city never made that one “official,” so it’s called “The People’s Flag.” Which one do you like better?

Why do people call

“CreamMilwaukee City”?

If you’ve ever been to Kohler-Andrae State Park, you might have seen the dunes – big, swooping mounds of sand. They were made way, way back – about 15,000 years ago – when Wisconsin was still covered in frozen glaciers from the ice age. When those glaciers melted, they left behind enough water to fill Lake Michigan. Waves on the lake pushed sand onto the shore, and heavy wind blew it up into those swooping dunes you see today. A: Does

Our city has a nickname that might seem kind of weird. Cream City? Does it have to do with … milk? No, “cream” actually refers to a kind of brick. Over a century ago, Milwaukee was well known for making bricks that were almost yellowish – people thought of it as cream-colored. You’ll see it all over if you visit the Third Ward neighborhood. We built so many buildings of those bricks that people started calling Milwaukee “Cream City.” Even though we don’t make them anymore, the name stuck! How did Wisconsin get sand dunes? Q:

We all know about the Packers and the Bears, the Brewers and the Cubs, the Bucks and the Bulls, but one of the biggest rivalries in Wisconsin has nothing to do with sports. It’s over our favorite sweet treat.

Frozen custard is a Wisconsin specialty. It’s made with egg yolks and churned slower than ice cream. Those two differences make it a lot creamier and thicker. Plus, it’s usually served a little warmer and meltier than your usual firm scoop of ice cream.

Which one do you like more? Try both so you know for sure! Here are some of Milwaukee’s top spots for them.

CUSTARD CUSTARD

Leon’s

This stand is a whopping 84 years old. It’s been around so long for a good reason – it makes awesome frozen custard. Try the Blue Moon flavor if they have it. It was invented in Wisconsin, and it tastes kinda like cotton candy. 3131 S. 27th St.

Georgie Porgie’s

Swing by this custard spot, where there’s a giant tree in the middle of the restaurant! You see, Georgie Porgie’s is a “tree fort” dining establishment, which means you can enjoy your homemade custard underneath the (fake) leaves. 9555 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek

Kopp’s

shops and sell it at many grocery stores. (The Dirt Cake flavor sounds gross, but it’s great – crushed up Oreos and chocolate ice cream!) Locations in Brookfield, West Allis and Merton

One of the fun parts of getting custard at Kopp’s is checking out the flavor of the day. Another is watching the staff in their snappy uniforms, complete with bowties! Plus, all three stands serve big, savory burgers. Locations in Greenfield, Glendale and Brookfield

FUN IN Real Life!

All right, let’s put down the iPads. There’s a bunch of fun stuff to do away from screens – and it’s good for you, too.

Joshua Fields, MD, a pediatrician from Children’s Wisconsin, knows it can be hard to get away from your screens. When we interviewed him on Zoom for this article, he laughed and said, “There are screens in front of me right now!” But as a doctor, he also knows that too much screen time isn’t good for anyone.

“The more screen time you have, and the more screens there are around you, the more negative side effects we see in kids and in adults,” he says. “When you have less time on screens, you get better sleep, have better self-esteem, and you feel better, too.”

With Dr. Fields’ advice in mind, we found some fun alternatives to screen activities for you to try!

If you like Minecraft and Roblox …

BUILD A LEGO SET

Take a break from your virtual world to build something physical – just like Bucks star Myles Turner (see page 16). You can buy a Lego set of something cool (Millennium Falcon? Pirate ship? Optimus Prime?) or just get a bunch of bricks and free-build from your imagination.

If you like watching TV …

READ AN ADVENTURE STORY

Get lost in wild fiction in the many awesome book series for young readers. We’d suggest Percy Jackson’s adventures in the world of mythology, or, if you’re looking for a laugh, the “Dog Man” series. At one of the Milwaukee Public Library branches, a librarian can help you find a book you’ll love. mpl.org

If you like playing Animal Crossing …

GO BIRDWATCHING

Do you have space at home for a birdfeeder? If so, hang it outside and watch the birds that stop by for a snack. Write down all the different types that visit. Or take a trip to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. It’s our local birdwatcher’s paradise with more than 250 bird species flying around! schlitzaudubon.org

If you like Madden and NBA 2K …

PLAY SPORTS WITH MKE REC

It’s pretty cool to nail a Hail Mary on PS5, but it’s cooler to nail one in real life. MKE Rec has tons of sports leagues to join: soccer, basketball, flag football, softball, tennis and more. milwaukeerecreation.net

If you like Pinterest and Instagram …

DRAW

Love surfing through other people’s beautiful photos and artwork? Try making some of your own. You can do it yourself, of course, but the Milwaukee Art Museum hosts fun classes that provide supplies and let you work on unique art projects with other kids. mam.org

TWO Truths AND A Lie

In each of these trios of fun facts about Wisconsin, there’s one that isn’t correct. Can you guess which one’s the lie?

The oldest official bowling alley in the United States is in Wisconsin.

The tallest man in recorded history was born in Green Bay.

Milwaukee’s baseball team used to be called the Braves, not the Brewers.

Our official state pastry is the kringle.

Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Incredible Hulk in Marvel movies, is from Wisconsin.

The first parachute jump ever happened over Waukesha.

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Two Truths and a Lie: Health Edition!

We asked the doctors and nurses at Children’s Wisconsin to share a few wild and weird facts about the human body. Can you guess which one in each trio is a lie?

The tiniest bone in your body is in your ear.

The tallest man, Robert Wadlow, was actually born in Illinois. (He was 8 feet and 11 inches tall!)

Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg is real … but it’s in Massachusetts. 1 3 2 4

Wisconsin has the longest place name in the entire country: Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Barbie’s (fictional) hometown is in Wisconsin.

The first-ever ice cream sundae was reportedly created in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

The first kindergarten classes in the U.S. were held in Watertown, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has an entire museum dedicated to mustard.

Lake Michigan is the deepest lake in the U.S.

Your heart beats about 100,000 times every day.

Adults have more bones than children do.

A human being is made of roughly 60% water.

The strongest muscle is in your legs.

When most babies are born, they can only see in black and white.

What’s the lie?

Group 1: Adults have fewer bones than kids! A baby is born with about 300, but the smaller bones fuse together as they grow up until there are only 206.

Group 2: The strongest muscle is the masseter – it’s in your jaw and helps you chew.

The first parachute jump ever was in Paris in 1797, 51 years before Wisconsin even became a state!

2 3 4

Crater Lake in Oregon is 1,943 feet deep – more than twice as far down as Lake Michigan’s 922 feet.

The World’s Largest

Have you ever seen a fish that’s four stories tall? Touched a ball of twine so massive it could crush a car? Chatted with a 16-foot-tall cow? Well, you’re in luck – Wisconsin has some of the most gargantuan thingamajigs on the globe. Here are just a few to check out!

Talking Cow NEILLSVILLE

Say hello to Chatty Belle. She’s 16 feet tall, 20 feet long, and has a surprisingly soothing voice. Built in 1964 for the World’s Fair in New York and brought to Wisconsin afterward, Belle’s a fiberglass Holstein about seven times the size of a real cow. Drop a quarter in, and she’ll start chatting! 1200 E. Division St.

Ball of Twine HIGHLAND

For 44 years, James Frank Kotera collected twine and wrapped it into a giant ball. Now that ball weighs 24,100 pounds (roughly the weight of 20 adult cows), making it the heaviest ball of twine in the entire world. 9360 S. Douglas County S.

Penny WOODRUFF

In 1953, a local doctor and a teacher led a campaign to collect a million pennies to help build a hospital. Soon, folks were sending in pennies by the pound. Woodruff got its hospital in 1954, and the town built this 10-foot-wide, 18-inch-thick penny to commemorate the accomplishment. 820 Third Ave.

Muskie Sculpture

At 143 feet long and 41 feet tall, this fearsome muskie is the crown jewel of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum. And it’s not just for show – you can walk inside the fish through a door in the, uh, rear, and go all the way up to an observation deck in its mouth. Open mid-April through October, 10360 Hall of Fame Dr.

all:

There’s nothing quite like biting into the perfect patty. Here are some of our favorites to try around Milwaukee – pass the napkins and dig in!

Nite Owl

This place has been around for 78 years! When it opened, cellphones, personal computers and the internet hadn’t even been invented. The reason it’s been around so long is simple: the burgers are fantastic! Be sure to try one this summer – Nite Owl is closed most of the fall and all winter. 830 E. Layton Ave.

Milwaukee Burger Company

Is a plain burger not enough? Then go all out with this place’s Cheese Curd Burger, which is exactly what it sounds like – a burger piled high with a bunch of deep fried cheese curds. 6421 S. 27th St., Franklin

Archie’s Flat Top

This place is new but it feels like it came from the last century. Archie’s is designed like an old-fashioned diner, with a long counter where you can pull up a stool. The place specializes in burgers, and Scratch Ice Cream shares the same building, so save room for a cone! 6922 W. Becher St., West Allis

Gilles

Like Nite Owl, this place has been around a looooong time – it’s the oldest frozen custard stand in the whole state. You can have a regular hamburger or cheeseburger or try

The Bucks’Meet

Lego Fanatic

You might have seen Myles Turner draining threes on the court. But did you know the NBA star loves collecting Lego sets?

AFTER A BIG GAME WITH THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS, Myles Turner goes home, spreads out hundreds of plastic bricks, flattens an instruction booklet, and builds Star Wars ships, Super Mario characters, dinosaurs and much more.

That’s right. The Bucks star loves Legos. And this isn’t just some small-time hobby. “I have a house in Austin and I have a house in Dallas, and honestly, I ran out of space in both houses,” Turner, who was born in Texas, says of his Lego collection.

In those Texas homes, you’ll find Turner’s personal favorite set – the Death Star – along with a 9,000-piece Titanic replica and a life-size Lego figure of Turner as Darth Vader.

On a large shelf in his Milwaukee apartment, there’s another Death Star, a colorful, swirling Milky Way galaxy, and a Lego tuxedo cat friend for Turner’s real cat, Casper.

Turner estimates that he spends about six hours a week building and completes at least

BYTHE NUMBERS

6 25 hours/ week, sets/ year

10,000

Bricks that make up the Eiffel Tower, Turner’s largest set

25 sets a year. His collection started when he was 6 years old. His father bought him his first Lego set, and from there, “I just started free building,” Turner says.

The hobby fell off in high school and while he was playing college basketball at Texas, but during his first season in the NBA in 2015, 19-year-old Turner discovered that “there really wasn’t that much for me to do in Indianapolis.”

more than

150,000

Estimated bricks in Turner’s Lego collection

Looking to fill time after practice, he bought a couple of sets, and the collection spiraled. Now, his Instagram account lights up whenever he posts his latest creation – a fan even gave him a Nike Lego set when he arrived in Milwaukee. “It’s funny because back in the day, I was made fun of for it a lot,” Turner says. “Now, a few years later, it’s cool and popularized and everybody loves Legos. I never did it for a social media reaction – it’s just this hobby I love.”

And he’s bringing it to schools, too. In December, he visited MacDowell Montessori to build Legos with kids. “It was cool to encourage them to tap into creative expression,” he says. “No matter what age, it’s important to have that outlet.”

PEEK Inside!

Glacier Edge Dairy

Wisconsin is full of places both strange and wonderful that are hidden from view. But we have the inside scoop! Take a look behind the scenes at these interesting spots:

The Rare Books Room

In the Milwaukee Public Library, you’ll find a locked door. Past it, you’ll find … another locked door. Only three people have the key into this Rare Books Room. The two stories of shelves within are lined with 18,000 of the most valuable books in the entire city. The collection includes A Book of Autographs, a 50-pound 1898 collection of signatures, including the most famous people of the day, like Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa and Susan B. Anthony.

Every glass of milk you drink and every piece of cheese you eat started at a dairy farm. And Wisconsin has a lot of those! At Glacier Edge Dairy near Janesville, the Metcalf family gets started feeding the cows at 4 a.m., and their day is very, very long. Between milking the cows, taking care of sick ones, and even helping them give birth to calves, a day on the farm doesn’t end until 10 p.m.

The Deep Tunnel Pump Room

One of Milwaukee’s great wonders of engineering lies far underneath the city streets. It’s called the Deep Tunnel, a 28.5-mile tank that holds up to 521 million gallons of sewage and rainwater. Nobody’s allowed in the tunnel unless they’re wearing a breathing device – the sewage gas is dangerous and also super gross – but people can get close in its pump room 320 feet below Jones Island. To reach it, you ride over three minutes down in an elevator. It may not be pretty, but the heart of Milwaukee’s wastewater treatment system is the envy of cities around the world.

Everything You Need to Know About

Sleepaway Camp

Spending several days – and nights – away from home for the first time is a big deal. Here’s how to prepare.

So you’re going to summer camp! Are you excited? You should be! Camp is a great experience, where you'll meet new friends, do cool stuff, and make memories for the rest of your life. But being away from home for the first time can make some people nervous. We asked Maggie Labban, LCSW, a behavioral health consultant with Children’s Wisconsin, to share some ways to get ready:

DO A PRACTICE RUN

Overnight camp is a whole lot easier if you’ve had a few sleepovers first. Talk to your parents about scheduling a trial run at a trusted friend or family member’s house –it’s good practice for being away from home.

BREAK YOUR ROUTINE

You might not expect it, but one of the weirdest feelings at camp is your routine changing. Do you get up at the same time, eat dinner at the same time, always watch TV at the same time? If so, try changing things up before going to camp. That way it won’t feel so strange.

ENTER THE ‘UNCOMFORTABLE ZONE’

It’s important for everyone to get outside their comfort zone and feel uncomfortable sometimes, according to Maggie. Trying new things and doing things that challenge you helps you become braver and more confident. Camp is great for that. You don’t have to do anything that makes you too scared, but try some things that seem difficult – maybe that’s canoeing or archery or climbing ropes. You might find that you enjoy them!

KNOW THE GOLDEN RULE

You meet lots of new people at camp. Maybe you love that, maybe it makes you nervous. Either way, Maggie says, the most important thing is empathy –understanding other people’s feelings. “When you walk into a room full of kids you don’t know, think, ‘How do I want these people to treat me?’ And then do that for other kids.” Would you want someone to ask you to play with them? Yes? Then try asking someone else.

TALK IT OUT

If you ever don’t feel good – maybe you miss home – talk to a counselor. They help kids talk through their feelings all the time, and they can help you!

GROUND YOURSELF

If you feel really nervous, Maggie recommends “grounding.” Use all five senses to calm down – look at five different things around you (try looking for five things that are your favorite color); feel four different objects; listen for three sounds; smell two things; and if there’s a snack nearby, taste one. Using all five senses can help you feel more relaxed!

PERFECT Have A

Weekends are treasures – don’t waste them! Here are awesome activities to make your Saturdays the best they can be.

Play Pinball

Want to flip out with some fast-paced competition? Pinball’s the way to go. Play on retro and modern machines at The Garcade in Menomonee Falls. And it’s not all pinball. There are more than 200 arcade games to check out, too. You can find other pinball hot spots all over town at pinballmap.com.

Shop American Science and Surplus

American Science and Surplus is a wild, wacky store full of toys and science trinkets and stuff that’s just plain weird: long underwear, radio parts, tank helmet liners. You could wander the aisles for hours finding things that you didn’t know even existed, but just have to have.

6901 W. Oklahoma Ave.

Watch Fast Cars at Road America hosts Grand Prix races – those approaching 200 mph. Wow,

Take a Discovery Flight

If flying is the superpower you most crave, then devote a Saturday to finding out how it actually feels in the cockpit of an airplane. Spring City Aviation offers $150 discovery flights with an adult chaperone. Your instructor will talk you through takeoff, turns and cruising thousands of feet in the air. springcityaviation.com

Go Fly a Kite

Nice weather is kite weather! Head down to the breezy lakefront Veterans Park and Gift of Wings. Pick up a starter kite for $13 and send it flying. giftofwings.com

Have a Doggy Day

Devote some quality time to your pooch. Start with a visit to Downtown’s first dog park, which opened last year at 103 W. Clybourn Ave. After your baby is tuckered out, grab a sweet treat (made just for dogs) just around the corner at Salty Paws Ice Cream (121 N. Jefferson St.). Don’t worry – they serve ice cream for humans, too.

Quick Care

Twisted ankle? Cut or burn? Children’s Wisconsin has many urgent care locations to take care of you. All you have to do is walk in and ask for help. Open days, nights and weekends by video visit and in person. Walk-in or skip the wait and reserve your spot in line by visiting childrenswi.org/urgentcare. SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Children’s Wisconsin Urgent Care Locations

Discover Dinosaurs in Kenosha

Dig this: Kenosha has a dinosaur museum! With life-size models, plus a play dig site and dino dress-up, Dinosaur Discovery is worth the drive. The main hall houses more than 20 gargantuan fossil replicas where dino-loving kids can test their skills on tonguetwisters like acrocanthosaurus. 5608 10th Ave.

So What Do You Do?

Meet some of the people with the coolest jobs in Milwaukee.

Element

Everest-Blanks

DJ

Turn on the radio, and you might hear Element playing some great music on Radio Milwaukee’s HYFIN, where she’s a DJ and host. She loves sharing culture and new artists with folks across Milwaukee.

“Music has literally been in my life since I could remember.”

Joe Goode ANIMAL LAWYER

Most of the time Joe is an attorney for businesspeople, which maybe doesn’t sound like that much fun. But his side gig is very cool! He’s an animal attorney. That means he helps animal shelters and the Humane Society when legal cases involve our furry friends.

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Isabella Demark, MS, CCLS CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST

Daniel Santiago PALETERO

In the summertime, Daniel starts his day at Paletería Yayo in Milwaukee, filling his cart up with paletas, which are delicious popsicles, and other sweet treats. Like an ice cream truck on two feet, he brings his cart around the city selling the frozen goodies to hungry kids!

“We are giving the kids happiness. When we arrive with our paleta, they are immediately excited.”

Amy Gorski BAKER

“Someone has to speak up

When Amy Gorski opened her own bakery, Poppy, in Milwaukee last year, the line was out the door! Now she spends her days making cookies, cakes and more. Did you know bakers have to get up really early to make the food before people arrive? Amy’s usual workday starts at 3 in the morning!

“I love cookies and pies and just a good piece of cake.”

Going to the hospital can be a little scary – whether you’re staying overnight or just getting a checkup. Isabella is one of the people who makes sure kids don’t feel too worried when they’re at Children’s Wisconsin. She went to school to learn about child development, and now she meets kids at Children’s Wisconsin, teaches them about illnesses, gives them tips to help their bodies and minds feel better, and helps them talk to the doctor if they need it. She even gets the chance to play games and just have fun with them, which is super important, too.

“The best part of my job is building amazing connections with kids and their families. Sometimes a kid might be scared to come in, but we help them and show them that they can do hard things.”

Bill Blagg MAGICIAN

When Bill turned 6, his dad gave him $20 to buy magic tricks. Now Bill’s a professional magician – he travels around the country performing shows where he escapes from cubes hoisted in the air, makes people levitate, and many more wild tricks.

“Always end your show with your best trick, because it’s the last moment your audience spends with you.”

OUTPOST BINGO

show this page to customer service for a treat!

Find Something Locally Made Find Bulk Spices Find a Sales Flyer Find Some Coffee Find Bulk Section Find a Grab + Go Food Something Green Find Something Fermented Find a Reuseable Bag Find a Name Tag Find Something Gluten-Free Find Something With Lavender Find Something With a Cow On It

Take a Picture With Your Favorite Vegetable

Find a Sweet Treat Find Something You’ve Never Tried Find a Wisconsin Cheese

Find Mr. Delicious Find Something Regionally Made Find Something Fair Trade Find the Cafe

Find The Goose

Find Your Favorite Fruit Find Something Red Find Something in a Glass Container

MILWAUKEE BAY VIEW WAUWATOSA MEQUON

What Happens When

When You Go to the Doctor?

Kids get checkups but … why? Seriously, what’s the point? We asked Ana Menendez Bermúdez, MD, a pediatrician from Children’s Wisconsin, to explain what’s actually going on when you go to the doctor. Here’s what she said.

WHAT IS THE CUFF DOCTORS PUT

AROUND A PATIENT’S ARM?

That checks your blood pressure. Think of your heart as a pump and your arteries as garden hoses that run throughout your body. When your heart beats, it pushes blood through these “hoses” to deliver oxygen and nutrients from your brain to your toes. Blood pressure is how hard that blood is pushing against the walls of those hoses. We need to measure it because sometimes that can be a sign of something unhealthy.

WHY DOES THE DOCTOR MAKE YOU TAKE A BIG BREATH IN AND OUT?

Your lungs get oxygen into your body so you can breathe. We want to make sure that the oxygen is going in and out the right way. When we make you breathe, we’re listening with an instrument called a stethoscope against your back. When you breathe, the only sound should be air going in and out of your lungs.

WHY DO KIDS HAVE TO GET CHECKUPS?

Checkups are important for everybody, but they’re especially important for kids. That’s because you’re growing so fast. We see babies and toddlers really often because they grow the fastest, but as you grow older we usually only need to check in on you once a year. We need to check your height, your weight and make sure you’re growing at the right pace.

WHY DO DOCTORS LISTEN TO YOUR HEART BEATING?

The heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It pumps blood to all the other organs that you need to run, to play, even to think. We use a stethoscope to listen to the sound of it beating through your chest. There’s a rhythm to that sound that tells us if your heart is pumping the blood the way it should. That’s what we’re listening for.

WHAT DOES A SHOT ACTUALLY DO?

Another word for a shot is a vaccine. A vaccine teaches your body to respond when a germ goes into it. Certain germs are worse than others – they can cause serious diseases – and we want to make sure that if your body ever comes into contact with those germs, it knows what to do to keep you from getting sick so you don’t end up in the hospital. The best way we can get that vaccine into your body is injecting it with a needle. I know that poke can be uncomfortable, but it’s really important and it keeps you healthy.

Local Spotlights

Planning a family-friendly day trip? An educational excursion? A weekend of fun? Check out these Southeastern Wisconsin businesses!

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin and among the finest orchestras in the nation. Since 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.

Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 414-291-7605

MSO.ORG

Renaissance Child Development Center

Renaissance Child Development Center is a nonprofit early childhood education program, offering daycare services, conveniently located on Milwaukee’s East Side just blocks from the bustling Downtown. Renaissance provides a safe, nurturing environment where children learn, grow and thrive – while building a strong foundation for lifelong success.

1306 N. Marshall St. 414-276-1133

Dinosaur Discovery Museum

Step into a world where dinosaurs come to life at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. Families can explore hands-on exhibits and even watch real fossil work happening in the lab. This summer, see how ancient creatures connect to modern birds in this fun, fascinating and educational adventure for all ages.

Cloud 9 Workshop

Kids, make art here! Visit Milwaukee’s favorite eco-art studio for kids and families! Cloud 9 Workshop offers creative experiences for all, including summer camps, birthday parties and weekend ARTventures. For 13 years, families have loved fun, hands-on projects using up-cycled and traditional materials. Create, play and explore today!

5205 W. North Ave. 414-702-5465 CLOUD9WORKSHOP.COM

The MilMagKids

Calendar

Reptile Day

JUNE 7, WEHR NATURE CENTER

Say hello to some scaly friends at this event for animal-lovers. The nature center will have snakes, turtles, lizards and salamanders that you can touch and learn more about. Plus, the guides will lead a hike to search for frogs and other amphibians and reptiles in the wild.

Family Days at Up-Down

JUNE 7, JULY 12, AUG. 2, UP-DOWN ARCADE BAR

Normally, this arcade bar is only open to adults, but once a month it opens the doors to kids. Don’t miss out on one of those days this summer! Up-Down has games like Pac-Man, pinball, Skee-Ball, Nintendo 64 video games and way more to try. updownarcadebar.com/milwaukee

Big Woods Adventure

JUNE 18, JULY 9, 16, 17, 30, AUG. 6, OLD WORLD WISCONSIN

You’ll feel like a time traveler at Old World Wisconsin. It’s a small town built just like you’re in the 1800s – there’s a blacksmith shop, log cabins, a general store and more. This summer, OWW is hosting one-day camps where kids get to dress up (just like the re-enactors), play games, meet farm animals and more. oldworld wisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org

Summerfest Children’s Fest Day

JUNE 26, HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK

Did you know Milwaukee has one of the biggest music festivals in the entire world? At Summerfest, there are hundreds of rocking concerts, not to mention a cool playground, splash pad, and a SkyGlider that lets you soar over the crowds. Children’s Fest Day has free admission for kids, plus special shows and activities! summerfest.com

Festa Italiana

JULY 10-12, HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK

Mamma mia! This festival celebrates all things Italian: delicious food, great music, art and culture – and did we mention delicious food? Try cannoli, eat a slice of pizza, and play a little bocce ball! iccmilwaukee.com/ festa-italiana

Milwaukee Air and Water Show

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Wisconsin State Fair

JULY 25-26, McKINLEY PARK

The pilots at this show are unbelievable. In fighter planes, they fly upside down, spin and do loop-de-loops, barrel roll around each other, and pretty much just defy gravity while going hundreds of miles per hour. mkeairwatershow.com

Art & Chalk Fest

AUG. 1-2, MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART

If you haven’t been to this festival before, then you’re in for a fun surprise. The artists here make crazy chalk art – they cover the concrete in big, intricate, amazing drawings. After you see them, you’ll be inspired to make your own. Good thing this festival has plenty of space for you to draw, too! wisconsinart.org

AUG. 6-16, STATE FAIR PARK

Eleven days is barely enough time to do all the fun stuff at the State Fair! Fly down the Giant Slide, watch the pig races, eat a cream puff (or two!), drink flavored milk, go on all the rides in SpinCity, and visit the horses and other farm animals. wistatefair.com

Snooze at the Zoo

AUG. 13-15, MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO

Every year, the zoo hosts this big sleepover with all the elephants, tigers, bears, hippopotami and other creatures. All you need to bring is a tent, pillow and sleeping bag, and you can spend the night at the zoo – they’ll bring the s’mores! zoosociety.org

Rally Round

SEPT. 19, THE MILWAUKEE MILE AT WISCONSIN STATE FAIR PARK

You can’t miss this party! Dance, picnic, play games, jump in bounce houses, make arts and crafts, and much, much more. Plus, it’s all for a good cause. During the fun, folks will race around the Milwaukee Mile track to raise money for Children’s Wisconsin that they use to help kids and their families. Register and learn more at childrenswi.org/rallyround

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