CTSI - Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin

08/10/2026

Did you know a child's brain develops most rapidly in the first five years of life? Get free, science-based tips from Vroom to support learning from the start. Try a Vroom Tip: https://bit.ly/4dHGqmZ

08/01/2026

☀️ August is here! ☀️

We’re kicking off the month TODAY at Birth Fest Milwaukee! 🎉 Be sure to stop by and say hi if you’re there. We’ll be leading our Park Pals program at 11:00 AM and would love to see you!

Looking ahead, August is full of opportunities to play:
🫧 Park Pals programs in New Berlin, Wauwatosa & Muskego
🌼 Flower Bee Farm (rescheduled to Friday, August 7)
🥗 Lunch Meet-Ups
👯 Moms Night Out
📚 Book Club

📌 We’ll keep this calendar pinned to the top of the group so it’s easy to find all month long.

💻 You can also find all of our upcoming events, RSVP links, and the most up-to-date calendar anytime at www.parkpalswis.org

👇 Which August event are you planning to attend? We’d love to meet your family this month! 💙

08/01/2026

The secret to getting your kiddo to clean up? Turn it into a game. 🎯 This Vroom Tip makes tidying up a brain-building moment. Find items by shape or category, take turns, and watch the mess disappear — and their brain grow at the same time!

If clean-up is fun, your child will be more likely to help. Try a game of finding and tidying up items in common. "I can find a circle. This car has wheels that are circles. Can you find a circle and put it away?" Or, "I can find something we wear. We wear socks. Can you find something we wear and put it away?"

What's the Brainy Background? 🧠 Clean-up time can be fun. Your child can also learn new things. When you find and name shapes, you help your child learn to look carefully and notice shapes. This will help them when it comes time to learn to read. This game also helps children take turns, listen, and make connections. 💡

07/16/2026

CTSI Director Julie Freed, MD, PhD, joins the MKE Health Briefing to discuss CTSI's mission to translate research into real-world treatments. Hear how CTSI connects researchers, clinicians, and communities to speed discoveries and improve patient care in Wisconsin and beyond. Listen now: https://tinyurl.com/ctsimkehealth

07/09/2026

You and your child are each other's #1 brain builder. Development happens during the moments you already spend together as a parent.

Get free, science-based tips from Vroom to support learning from the very start. Try a Vroom Tip: https://bit.ly/4dHGqmZ

07/02/2026

06/22/2026

Expecting a baby? Your brain is getting ready, too. You're already building the skills that matter most!

Get free, science-based tips from Vroom to support learning from the very start: https://bit.ly/4wHYjLf.

06/16/2026

Does your child have a favorite book? Encourage them to explore the topic in real life. If the book is about nature, hunt for interesting flowers or bugs. Trucks? Look for them on the street. Talk with them about what’s the same or different in the book and what they see.

By helping your child make connections between what they read and their own experiences, you're encouraging their skills of comparing, which is important for later learning. Plus, you're helping them develop a life-long love of reading and learning!

06/16/2026

Summer is nearly here, bringing sun and fun. But you need to be prepared! Discover Summertime Preparedness & Prevention …inside this edition of CTSI Discovery Radio! https://tinyurl.com/discovery-radio

06/15/2026

Our friends at Vroom now offer science-backed resources for new and expecting parents! Ready, Set, Vroom shares simple, affirming tips to help caregivers support learning and build skills — learn more at https://www.vroom.org/new-parents