Is summer reading a drag? Do you find your kids flipping through a couple pages of their books, and then abandoning them to collect dust under the bed? With iPads, streaming shows, and video games within arms’ reach, a book might be the last thing your kiddo reaches for. You’ve tried buying books on topics they like, movies they’ve watched, or people they admire, but the result is the same: dusty books and bored kids. How can parents change this?
The National Institute of Health has performed a systematic review of studies regarding screen time and children’s attention span. “The findings suggest that exposure to excessive screen time in children can be associated with attention problems.” The reality is, we’re surrounded by screens all the time – and it’s having an affect on our children’s ability to concentrate. Reading books might be difficult for kids not because the material is too advanced, or that they aren’t interested in learning more about the topic. It might just be that the kids can’t concentrate.
One way to ease them back into good reading habits is selecting high-interest, short passages with interactive elements – in other words, magazines! They’re not just for the doctor’s office. Receiving a magazine in the mail can be an exciting part of a child’s routine, and many magazines include high quality fiction, poetry, non-fiction, games, puzzles, and more.
Short-form reading can help a student figure out what they are interested in, and how to best pursue it. This can be an essential part of college planning, and can begin at any age. Below, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations based on age group.
For the Pre-K-2nd Grader
Baby animals, pattern recognition, look-and-find games, poetry, and short stories for the littlest readers.
Cozy read-aloud stories and poems, recurring characters, and a four-page pull-out activity section mean your child will be asking to read these installments again and again.
For the 3rd-5th Grader
This timeless classic ‘zine offers stories, poems, i-Spy games, puzzles, and jokes interspersed with DIY crafts. For over 75 years, Highlights has been delivering 44 pages of fun.
Perfect for the budding explorer, this magazine offers non-fiction articles about science and nature, beautiful images, and interactive science activities.
For the Middle Schooler
Politics, fashion, music, and pop culture combine in this magazine targeted toward teens and tweens. With a consistently body-positive message, this ‘zine is perfect for the emerging fashionista.
Perfect for the future scientist, this magazine offers easily digestible articles about nature, technology, space, and more.
For the nature-lover, these magazines take a monthly deep dive into ecology, zoology, and the climate.
For the High Schooler
Politics, poetry, fiction, food, current events, and thought-pieces, all immaculately edited. With a subscription, you also gain access to the New Yorker backlog, which include seminal works such as short stories by J.D. Salinger and Margaret Atwood, essays by James Baldwin, and in-depth profiles of figures such as Diana Nyad and six survivors of Hiroshima.
Packed full of science news, this magazine makes breakthroughs easily understood by the wider population. Tackling hot topics such as AI, the climate crisis, and gene therapy, these bite-size articles are a great way to stay informed.
World news, current events, politics, and history are featured here. For the aspiring politician, geographer, diplomat, or humanitarian, this magazine can keep students engaged.
Reading periodicals is more important for high school students than any other group. Students looking to apply to top colleges and universities will be asked about their interests, passions, and what they hope to achieve with their education. Staying up to date on current events is the best way for students to keep their finger on the pulse, have relevant answers to their supplemental essay prompts and interview questions, and decide on a direction for their career path.
Overwhelmed by the thought of college admissions?
Aristotle Circle can help. Our network of NACAC-certified college admissions counselors knows what top colleges and universities are looking for, and how to find the perfect-fit school for your child. Our counselors guide students every step of the way, from selecting summer programs to fine-tuning resumes and essays. Our comprehensive College Admissions Counseling Package offers unlimited one-on-one meetings with a certified college admissions counselor. Visit us online at http://www.aristotlecircle.com or give us a call (212-360-2301) or email (info@aristotlecircle.com) for a free consultation.
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