THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

After Santa unloaded his sleigh into my living room, my two children were a bit toy-crazy and the last thing they wanted to do is sit down and let me read them a book. Sure, after the holidays, kids find themselves with an excess of plastic things that sing, dance, and make enough crazy noises to drive their parents completely crazy. But at some point, parents look around their invaded houses and think: Toys-R-Useless! What ever happened to some good old fashion fun…like reading?

If you have to purchase a gift for a child in the months following the holidays, you might find yourself in a bit of a quandary. What on earth can you buy that could wow the kid and please the parent? Here’s a great idea that often gets overlooked… it’s a fun gift that keeps on giving. And that mystery gift I’m referring to is… (drum roll please)….a magazine subscription.

Whether the child is six moths old, or six days away from turning sixteen, there is a really great magazine that‘s just perfect for them! Magazine subscriptions are a great gift to give for many reasons:

1) They’re really easy to get. You can order them online, over the phone, or by mail.

2) They encourage reading and can be a useful tool to excite kids to learn something new.

3) Magazines come in the mail each month (or bimonthly) and kids really look forward to getting the new issue

4) They are something kids can collect.

5) Kids LOVE getting their “own” mail.

6) A subscription may not be something the child already has (or has ten of).

7) The child has a new issue to look forward to

8) Did I mention kids get a kick out of mail addressed to them?

You’ll see dozens of children’s magazines on the newsstands and in bookstores. Unless you have hours to flip through them, finding one that is not only age-appropriate, but worth subscribing to-- can be difficult.

Long Island has plenty chain bookstores and these magazines can easily be found in the magazine section or in the children’s department. So with all those magazines on the racks, which do you choose? To take some of the mystery out of magazines… here’s some great titles that I love---and you might want to check-out:

For infants and toddlers

• BABYBUG is a terrific listening and looking magazine up to two years old. For young children who are eager to learn, and for parents who are eager to read and spend time with their little ones, this magazine features simple stories and poems. The poems are rhythmic or rhyming and are pleasing to a young ear. This magazine features top-notch children’s artists, and the quality is superb.

For children 2-12

• HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN has been around since 1946, and it’s still reins as one of the best that children’s magazines have to offer. Their content is both entertaining and enlighten, as they cater to both young and older readers. With fiction that not only improves reading skills, young minds will also learn a great deal about customs, values, virtues, world cultures, and traditions (to name a few). This magazine also offers educational and entertaining nonfiction articles, crafts, and unique projects.

For children 8-14

• COBBLESTONE is a magazine for young readers that really encourage learning. Issues have “themes” and the stories and articles are both lively and historically accurate. COBBLESTONE features fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and various puzzles. This is a perfect periodical for those kids who are really into history or retold legends. There’s also some great fiction for young readers who like adventure stories.

For girls 11-17

• GUIDEPOSTS SWEET 16 Teen magazines for girls are extremely popular among girls. With so many titles to choose from, it’s quite difficult to pick which one would make the perfect gift. With watchwords like: “wholesome”, “current”, “fun”, and “inspiring”, SWEET 16 is a great choice, because girls won’t find anything in this magazine that might make them blush. What they will find is fantastic true, first-person stories about real teens, as well as fun and trendy quizzes, fashion, beauty, celebs, advice and boys.

At first glance, a magazine subscription may not send the kid running through the house with glee, but believe me, after their first issues arrives and they soon realize how cool it is that more are on it’s way, they will soon be running to the mailbox –waiting for the next issue to be delivered.

Today’s children’s magazine make it easy for kids to develop a love for reading. They are packed with fun, inspiration, and not to mention, they are—hands down—one of the greatest gifts you can give that doesn’t require 2 AA batteries.

Janene Mascarella
Contact Janene Mascarella
January 09, 2006 11:13 PM Eastern

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