Need Help for Finding a Children's Magazine Suited for a Four Years Old...

Updated on August 19, 2010
M.B. asks from Sparks, NV
21 answers

Currently I have a subscription with Highlights High Five for my son who hasn't showing much interest at the magazine. He would look through it, but won't do any puzzles or activities within the magazine. I do try to sit and read with him, but not very successfully. But he does sit through other story books during our reading time. I am either considering cancel the subscription or try other magazines which my friends suggested, like Your Big Backyard from National Wildlife Federation or National Geographic Little Kids from National Geographic... I would like to know if you are currently subscribed magazine for your little ones. Which one did you choose and do you kids like it???

1 mom found this helpful

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S.B.

answers from San Diego on

We used National Geographic's World for kids and Zoonooz from the San Diego Zoo. (We live in San Diego but you can still just get the magazine.) My kid's loved both. We also had the highlights but they didn't seem to much interested in them.

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J.F.

answers from San Diego on

My daughter loves the National Geographic magazine. We get both the NG and Big Backyard. She likes both but is drawn more the the simplicity of the NG. Have fun!

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

We love National Geographic's Little Kids! I have a 4 year old as well and that one and the one from National Wildlife Federation is great. When they're a little older, they'll probably enjoy Highlights more. I need to check if there's still a kids' magazine called "Cricket" out there. I loved it as a child, but it's for older kids.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son actually gets "Click" from the people who make "Cricket" magazine. I'm sure if you google either name, you can find them. Really good! There are stories as well as science stuff...my son is five and still enjoys it.

-M

1 mom found this helpful
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F.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried "ladybug" magazine. Don't let the name fool you. Ladybug is a parent choice silver award winner.
Ladybug Magazine features:
Recommended for children ages 3 to 6 years
Each issue is filled with stories, poems, activities, songs and crafts
40 pages
Written by some of the world's best writers
Simple activities build motor skills
No advertising
A removable 4-page activity section
Published 9 times/year
Here is their website. Hope this helps
http://www.ladybugmagkids.com/

1 mom found this helpful

Y.C.

answers from New York on

Highlights, High five and national geographic kids magazine are great options.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Highlights for kids magazine - fun reading and lots of games.

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

My kids are older, but they loved National Geo and also the Disney magazine (not sure it's still around). As a suggestion-- magazine subscriptions make a wonderful birthday/Christmas/etc. present from Grandma or Aunt Susie. Then the kids can get several magazines and you stay on budget.

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R.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

National geographic little kids is what we have. My daughter likes it and I get ideas of things to do with her...
R.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My son loved Highlights - eventually, but it took time for him to warm up to it. I started getting it when he was about 4 yrs. I use to love it myself when I was a kid. At first I had to read it to him. We'd both play the find the objects in the picture together (and help each other - he had really sharp eyes for finding things) and we always loved the Timbertoes. Eventually I had him pick out words, and as his reading level progressed, he eventually ended up by reading stories to me. We read lot's of things besides Highlights together (every Dr Seuss book we could find), and he liked it best if we read snuggled together on the couch or in a rocking chair. Now he's 11 and reading at a 12th grade level, and Highlights is too young for him. Guess I'll get to enjoy it again when grandchildren eventually come along!

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

My 7 year old like Highlights - alwasy has. My 4 year old could care less. He does like National Geographic Kids....and all of my kids read it when it comes...even my 2 year old picks out all of the animals and asks her brothers for more info on everything.

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W.E.

answers from Sacramento on

my son loved a magazine called chirp. it's the first in a series of age geared magazines. first is chirp, then chickadee, then owl magazine. he's 13 now and still likes both chickadee and owl. he also used to enjoy ranger rick and big backyard. he was never crazy about highlights. still likes the nat geo kids. enjoyed zoobooks for about six months and then didnt want anything to do with it. I really like the chirp/chickadee/owl magazines as they grew with him.

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S.M.

answers from San Diego on

I subscribed to National Geographic Little Kids for my grandsons when they were 5 and 3. They loved it. Now I also send them National Geographic Kids because my oldest grandson is 7 now. I'm sure the other magazines are good too, but the boys really like the information about and pictures of the animals. They really seem to look forward to each magazine.

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D.E.

answers from San Diego on

A few good ones are Wild Animal Baby, Turtle, and Your Big Backyard. My kids loved these as toddlers, and still do. Wild Animal Baby is my favorite, but it is only bimonthly. We also used to get Zootles, which is also a great one.

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J.A.

answers from Spartanburg on

My almost 4 gets Highlights High Five and Nat Geo Little Kids, she likes them both and does all the activities in them, I have read that young boys will read and participate if the subject intrests them, girls aren't as picky, I am sure that is a generalization. I beleive the reference was to comic books.... it was saying how boys and young children in general are drawn to violence (which many, even age appropriate comics and cartoons for that matter, be a concern for parents) and that graphic novels and comic books (geared to the right age group) can be a good bridge between pic books and chapter books for boys. SO if your son is into animals and exotic places then the other mags may be a good bet. What are the topics of the other books he likes during story time? Find mags or books from the library to match his intrest... I read Big Backyard as a kid and still have my collection of mags to pass along to my kids.

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S.Z.

answers from Reno on

My kids loved Your Big Backyard and Nat. Geo. magazines.

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C.S.

answers from Reno on

My kids used to get Turtle Magazine, and they loved it. Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi M.....My daughter, who is now 12, LOVED "Your Big Backyard" as well as "National Geographic Kids"...lots of interesting stories, facts and activities, and big beautiful, colorful photos. They have lots of neat articles about unusual bugs, birds and fish and other animals that your son would love. My daughter actually still enjoys looking through them. She wasn't a huge fan of Highlights when she was young.

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L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

There is a series of magazines - Cricket, L., etc. that are geared to different ages.
Check it out. They are great!
LBC

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S.E.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Our kids get Zootles. Every issues focuses on a letter and anilmals that corrispond with that letter, They also have a versoin for younger kids and one for older kids.

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M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

Does your local library have any of these subscriptions? You should try them out with him, because it will be HIS interest that is important. My nephew likes Big Backyard, but my kids don't. My kids both liked High Five, but showed no interest in the National Geographic for kids magazine. I would see if you can get your hands on a few issues of a few magazines and see which he likes best.

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