Where to Find Free Magazines for Kids

Parents are always worried about making sure their child has the latest toys, but what about reading material? Often times reading can bring a parent and child together and give them something to talk about. Not only are magazines a great option, but there are many free magazines available for children both online and in print.

Print magazines are obviously the easiest to take with you. If your child likes to read before bed, then a print magazine is a good idea. However, online magazines also allow children and parents to print the material for later reading. Many parents will find online magazines easier to deal with, nothing to store or keep up with. Online magazines give your child a chance to learn early computer skills. Both print and online publications will drastically help a child's reading skills as well.

I remember as a child, I was often inspired by magazine articles I read. I love reading about children my age doing incredible things. It made me believe I could be just as great. As a result, I did my best in school and also had a wonderful bond with my parents. We would take a few hours each week to read my magazine and do the activities and puzzles. Discussing what I had read and spending time with my parents helped me to become a better teen and adult. The same has been true with other children I have seen.

The main con to online magazines is eye strain. Parents need to make certain their child does not spend too much time staring at the computer screen. Often times, printing the material is best for lengthy articles. Print magazines have cons as well. Games and puzzles can only be done once in most cases. Online, you simply refresh the page and start again. The best thing to do is to try both and see which works best for you and your child.

Free Online Magazines for Kids:

Time Magazine for Kids

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/magazine

The site is easy to navigate and is filled with articles and activities from the actual print publication.

Fandangle Magazine

http://www.fandanglemagazine.com/

This is a magazine for children 6-10 and features articles, poems, and activities. The magazine can be saved to your computer as a PDF file for offline and print reading.

Jack and Jill

http://cbhi.org/magazines/jackandjill/

A free online magazine from the Children's Better Health Institute for children ages 7 to 10.

National Geographic For Kids

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngforkids/

This is the online version of the popular children's version of National Geographic. Featuring educational and fun articles along with games, this is a win-win for children.

Nick Magazine

http://www.nick.com/shows/nick_mag/index.jhtml?_requestid=2050198

This is the free online version of the popular network and print magazine, providing many activities and articles for kids and teens.

For a more extensive list of online magazines for children and teens, visit http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=/electronic/webwatch/magazines/index.html

Sadly, most free print magazines are coloring books or simply one or two free issues to entice you into purchasing a subscription.

Most free magazines are as good as their costly counterparts. Of course, depending on your child's interests, paid subscriptions may be better to find quality information. But why not check out the freebies first? Let you child develop an interest in the subject before subscribing to anything. As parents know, children tend to enjoy multiple hobbies, so free magazines may be the best way to cater to all your child's interests.