Get ready to see dragons at the zoo, and prepare for summer
When my daughter was a toddler, she loved dinosaurs. It was one of those things that seemed to happen by osmosis. Suddenly, seemingly overnight, she was pointing out every dinosaur she saw, telling me the names of dinosaurs I had no idea she knew and getting really excited to eat at the "dinosaur restaurant" on our trip to Disney World (The T-Rex Cafe in Disney Springs).
As she got older, her fascination with dinosaurs expanded to a more scientific interest in their evolution, the discovery of fossils and eventually geology.
Something to do with your kids
As the mother of a kid who loves dinosaurs, I was always on the lookout for exhibits, shows and movies that featured them. That includes the robotic dinosaur exhibit that has been at the Milwaukee County Zoo a few summers.
This summer, though, the zoo is doing things a little differently. They're featuring robotic dragons instead of dinosaurs. While the creatures are mythical rather than extinct, the people at the zoo hope to tap into that same fascination with dinosaurs that a lot of kids have, in order to point out the similarities between dragon features and animals that live at the zoo.
And, when I mentioned the exhibit to my now teenage daughter, that theory was confirmed. She started telling me about different dragons and how their mythology has been inspired both by the animals in different countries and by the discovery of dinosaur fossils by people in history. And, again, I had no idea she knew all that information.
If you have kids who are fascinated by dinosaurs, dragons or just love the zoo, the exhibit starts Memorial Day weekend.
A few more things to do with your kids
Summer weather is suddenly upon us. Here are some good deals on summer gear you may need.
Speaking of summer, the Summerfest lineup has been announced.
Lots of families love going to Wisconsin Dells over summer vacation. Here's a bucket list of things to do there.
There's going to be a lunar eclipse on Sunday night — a super flower blood moon to be exact. Here's what you need to know if you want to observe it.
Something to make you think
This past Monday, child care providers throughout the country brought attention to problems in the child care industry by going on strike for a day. The biggest problem is that child care providers don't get paid nearly enough money. That means high turnover among child care workers and child care centers that go out of business or are barely hanging on, leading to child care deserts in a lot of areas.
Something to make you smile
A few years ago, this Oconomowoc woman was inspired to raise money for a child with cancer at her roadside flower stand. Now it's a tradition. Every year, she finds a child whose family needs help. Then she puts out a jar with a picture of the child on it, and donations pour in.
Contact Amy Schwabe at (262) 875-9488 or amy.schwabe@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @WisFamilyJS, Instagram at @wisfamilyjs or Facebook at WisconsinFamily.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dragons at the Milwaukee County Zoo and Summerfest lineup
