We've fooled around with a lot of different magazines. When people were very small, we loved Babybug, and I mean LOVED. We checked out Ladybug (good), Muse (oh-my-God-how-we-love-this-magazine-still), Spider (nice). I guess we're fans of magazines, sometimes there's nothing more relaxing than dipping in to the short story form, whether fictional or non. And some of us here have taken to stealing The New Yorker when it comes, with special love shown for the caption contest and Shouts and Murmurs.
But this year we've had someone fall in love, true love, with a magazine, one that I associate with hoarding and basements and retirement age. What could I be talking about? Oh yeah, the Grandpa of Magazines:
(image courtesy lifebuilder.blogspot.com and National Geographic)
And yes: the subscription did, in fact, come courtesy of a beloved grandpa.
The issue pictured above had Chestnut patiently explaining, "Don't worry, Mommy, that part of my brain isn't developed yet, that will happen more when I'm 12 or 13." Also opining to another family en route to school, "Well you know, I read an interesting article about that…." I guess it's that she's free of all the weird associations I have with it, and she just goes for what's compelling to her, which is pretty much all of it (though I could have done without her learning about that worm disease you get in fresh water on the African continent, because honestly we have enough to worry about).
But watching her learn about the wider world? It's amazing. We had the kid's version, but it was pandering and dull, stories about Kung Fu Panda, timed with the movie, that made me ill. Too simplistic even when she was 8. But this? This is wonderful, it's like a magic window on the rest of the world. She loves it.
And especially for those kids who just can't get into fiction? This is perfect.
marcialerner.com 
If she likes National Geographic (and I’m so with her on that one), she might also really enjoy Smithsonian. I’ve been reading it since college, and always look forward to a new issue.
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You are right about the Nat. Geo. for kids… I never found it to be as interesting, or as well done, as the adult version. Maybe we should let them know?
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We had a subscription to Nat’l Geo for kids when my daughtere was *five,* and it was too simplistic even then. And the ads! So many ads!
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Huh. Maybe for Christmas? I know that I loved them as a kid. I kind of forgot about it…shameful. I do know that once you get them, it is REALLY hard to recycle them though. And I already have SO MUCH around here…but, huh. That might just be a consequence worth enduring. Thanks!
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Great idea! I do remember the National Geographics of the sixties and seventies. I believe I learned everything about naked bodies and sex from perusing those. 🙂
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National Geographics are the best! I still remember some of the articles I read when I was a kid. That’s where I gained my love for Jane Goodall. By the way, if she’s interested in primates, Goodall’s first book, In the Shadow of Man, is excellent non-fiction. I think I was about Chestnut’s age when I read it. Fascinating.
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Right, the naked people. For a long time it was all about the naked people. How could I have forgotten that? There don’t seem to be so many in current issues, I wonder why.
And yes, hard to make yourself recycle, but that seems to be true of EVERYTHING.
And yes too, I hate the ads in National Geographic for Kids. The whole enterprise seemed craven and horrific.
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I think I might trade up the ‘for Kids’ subscription kiddo received as a gift! I’ve been complaining about the ads, and yet never ever once thought of this option until now! Thanks!
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Besides Highlights, I think the first magazine I loved was Omni. Man, it was cool. (Oh, wait. I repressed all those Tiger Beats.) And Mad! How could I forget Mad magazine?
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