Raising a Toddler in Milwaukee
I am officially the mother of a three-nager. This past Saturday was my little Baer’s birthday, and it was also the first birthday we celebrated in Milwaukee! Baer has the unfortunate distinction of being a Covid baby — even though he was born in 2019, his first birthday fell exactly one day after the world shut down due to Covid-19. Thus, he has never had a proper birthday party. This year, we spent the day with his favorite cousins at his favorite museum, and after spending the day watching him have such a great time, I got to thinking about all the amazing experiences that are available to kids living in the Milwaukee area. There are so many opportunities and activities to enjoy, I decided to compile them in a list! Whether you live in Southeastern Wisco or are planning a trip to the area, hopefully this will provide you with some ideas to entertain your kiddos.
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum: This is where we spent Baer’s birthday! It’s located in downtown Milwaukee, conveniently right above a parking garage. The museum is an amazing hands-on experience for kids of all ages (even my 10-year-old nephew had a great time). Areas for exploration include Home Sweet Home and Science City. There are sensory-friendly sessions (which makes my OT heart happy!), and the admission is free on the third Thursday of every month.
Discovery World: Located across the street from Betty Brinn on scenic Lake Michigan, Discovery World has a focus on STEM activities, some of them with a Midwest spin. The aquarium features fish from Lake Michigan, and there is an exhibit called the Great Lakes Future. There are also exhibits on physics, sound, and automation. Bonus: they’re currently registering kiddos for their summer camp!
Milwaukee Public Museum: I have a soft spot for the Public Museum because I helped raise funds for their new location a few years ago. It’s still in its original location in downtown MKE and will be there until at least 2026 when MPM and Betty Brinn will move closer to the Deer District (go Bucks!). At MPM, you’ll find a planetarium, a butterfly garden (if you’re lucky — and very still — the butterflies may land on you), and an amazing display of First Americans representing the seven tribes of Wisconsin. And of course, you must take a stroll through the streets of Old Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Co. Zoo: The zoo has only one drawback: it’s outdoors. In Wisconsin. So, if you can tolerate snow on your zoo visit, great! I, however, cannot. My zoo days here are somewhat limited, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t get a lot out of the days that I do head out there. The first thing you see when you walk through the doors are the penguins! There’s also a big elephant yard, an aviary, and an otter exhibit, a definite must-see.
Mitchell Domes: There are three domes: the desert dome, tropical dome, and show dome. Each dome is roughly one acre and all under glass! The tropical dome and the desert dome generally stay the same, but the show dome changes displays five times a year. If you’re unsure about venturing out to the Domes or are too far away to make the trek, they have multiple virtual tours available on their website.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center: Like the zoo, the nature center’s primary drawback is that a lot of it is outside, but that isn’t to say there isn’t plenty to do there! There are six miles of hiking trails, and the area is a popular one for bird watching. My OT brain also loves that they have the SPARK! Program, which is a collaboration between the center and the Alzheimer’s Association of SE Wisconsin.
First Stage: First Stage is multiple things. It’s a theater geared towards children that offers a full season of live performances. It offers theater lessons during the school year and the summer, as well as theater intensives. Once again, my OT heart is happy: First Stage not only offers sensory-friendly performances of their shows, they also have theater training programs for performers on the spectrum.
This is obviously an abbreviated list of all the amazing options that Milwaukee has to offer kiddos. There are so many interesting opportunities for kids and families to have an amazing experience or upbringing in “The Good Land!” Hopefully you’ll feel inspired to give us a visit!