Babybug and Other Reading Material Options

It has been so long since I have had a chance to check out magazines for kids. There are so many now available and on so many different topics and format types. When I was young all I remember is Highlights and National Geographic. But, a few months back I discovered there is actually a magazine just for babies. So, what do I do, but of course, I subscribed to it. The magazine is called Babybug. It is published by Carus, who also produces Cricket and other worthwhile magazines.

However, after now receiving our first copy of Babybug, so far, I have to admit it really isn't what I thought it would be. Yes, I was probably over estimating its potential for babies. Carus describes Babybug as "the listening and looking magazine for infants and toddlers, is just right for small hands. " Well, I think it is right on target for toddlers that are at least 24 months and older. However, I wouldn't recommended it for anyone younger. For a magazine though it comes across as okay in content and structure. The medium weight of the cardboard type pages works well for toddlers sitting on a lap who like to turn the pages. The stories are very, very short and are accompanied by simple and engaging artwork. Overall, I would not recommend getting this magazine unless you have a little one with an extremely short attention span or one that likes quick variety. Although, I am trying not to judge the magazine as a book, it really is hard to explain my disappointment without comparison. For this age of a market I must admit, they are better suited I think for regular boardbooks. But, then again each child is different and this may be better for one rather than another.

But, I do want to mention there are a number of wonderful magazines written just for kids (usually 9 and up) that are great. Try ones like Spider, Kids (National Geographic), Ranger Rick, American Girl, Appleseed, etc. To me magazines seem to match up better with kids that are at least able to read on their own rather than needing assistance. The wear and tear alone makes it difficult to maintain, plus kids at earlier ages tend to like repetition more, which magazines cannot offer. (Just a thought though, magazines like American Girl and such offer a lot of advertisements versus those like Spider.)



Some others to consider:
Cobblestone: "is American history magazine for kids 9 to 14. Read about many events and places, from Colonial Williamsburg to famous battles of the Civil War to the Gold Rush to the Korean War."
Cricket: "is filled with stories, poems, puzzles, recipes, and science and nature articles- all designed to stimulate the imagination and help young people discover and explore the world around them". (ages 8 and 12)
Dig: "lets young people ages 9-14 share in the thrill of archaeological discovery while learning about the cultural, scientific and architectural traits and beliefs of different societies."
Faces: "is about the cultures of the world for kids 9-14. Each issue focuses on a different cultures- from Laos to Morocco to Jamaica."
Muse: ages of 9 and 14 (sponsored by Smithsonian) "features articles on space, genetics, lasers, rain forests, computers, physics, math, and visual arts."
Sports Illustrated for Kids: "covers sports and includes interviews with sports heroes, hilarious comics, awesome action photos, etc." (lots of ads)