Magazines for children and teenagers! Here’s our selection of great magazines for children and teens in elementary school, middle school, and high school. With a variety of magazines for children aged 4-8, 8-12, and teenagers, this list is designed for school libraries, homeschooling, and subscription ideas for birthdays, celebrations, or Christmas gifts.
Magazines for children – our recommendations
Magazines for children aged 4-8
Highlights for Children. Strong on STEM features and thinking skills. Good for stimulating children aged 6-10.
Highlights High Five. Stories, poems, puzzles, and features to appeal to younger children aged 2-6. Great to read with your child.
Ladybug Colorful illustrated poems and stories for children aged 2-6. Ideal for shared reading.LEGO Magazine
Designed for LEGO fans aged 5-9, LEGO Magazine is a free printed magazine delivered to children several times a year. Each 28-page issue includes comics, puzzles, creative building ideas, posters, activities and familiar LEGO characters. Children can also see models made by other young builders and submit their own creations for possible inclusion. Parents or guardians need a free LEGO account to register, and previous issues can be explored online.
Free print and digital magazine
National Geographic Little Kids. Great to encourage young children to read about geography and the world.
Ranger Rick Jr. Packed with information about nature and animals for the under-sevens.
Spider . Aimed at children who are starting to read independently. No ads and quality writing.Netflix Family Magazine
Featuring characters and activities inspired by Netflix family programs, Netflix Family Magazine combines stories, games, coloring pages, stickers, crafts and simple recipes. It is designed for children and caregivers to enjoy together, with plenty of activities that can be completed away from a screen. Families can register for a free physical copy, while current and previous issues provide downloadable pages and printable activities online.
Free print and digital magazine
Chirp. Attractive and engaging content for 3-6-year-olds. Good for emerging readers.
Humpty Dumpty Magazine. Ideal to read with children under 4 and older independent readers. Packed with craft ideas, stories, and puzzles.Magazines for children aged 8-12
National Geographic Kids. Well-crafted content, features, and games for children aged 8-12.
Sports Illustrated Kids. Child-centered and current – a great addition to the elementary school library.
Ask. Science, inventions, and machines – great for children interested in STEM.
Scout Life (formerly Boys’ Life). Outdoor skills and activities – produced by the Boys Scouts of America.
chickaDEE. A wide variety of articles to appeal to both boys and girls.
Muse. Environment, nature, technology, and science in this colorful and well-written magazine.
OWL. Investigative and exploratory stories and articles to appeal to children aged 6-10.
Jack & Jill. Lots of creative, crafty and practical activities and guides for boys and girls aged 8-12.
Cobblestone. Great for children interested in science, technology, and progress. Well written and visually appealing.The Kids’ Guide to Helping Animals
The Kids’ Guide to Helping Animals is a free one-off magazine covering wildlife protection, animal-friendly activities, cruelty-free shopping and ways children can support animals in their communities. It also includes animal facts, puzzles, quizzes, projects and stickers. The publication presents these subjects from PETA’s animal-rights perspective, so parents and educators may wish to review it before classroom use. Printed copies are available only to addresses in the United States and Canada.
Free magazine in the US and Canada
Girls World. Designed to appeal to girls in middle school. Occasionally edgy, and up to date.
Ranger Rick. Great for children who love the outdoors and wild spaces. Nature, conservation, and wildlife are common themes.
MagnifiKid! A lively Christian magazine with activities, stories, and craft ideas containing a faith element.Pathways
Created by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences in collaboration with Scholastic, Pathways is a collection of free science magazines and classroom materials for students in grades 6-12. Issues examine biomedical topics such as the brain and anesthesia, medical imaging, superbugs, circadian rhythms, regeneration and science careers. Each topic is supported by educator guides, vocabulary lists, videos, interactive activities and quizzes. Materials are available online, and free printed magazines and teaching guides can also be ordered.
Free STEM magazines and teaching resources
Magazines for teens
- National Geographic – the world-famous magazine which explores nature, wildlife, geography, and the impact of mankind.
- National Geographic History – in-depth themed history articles that are accessible and engaging.
- Popular mechanics – popular science, electronics, DIY, projects, and technology.
- Popular science – ideal for younger teens who are interested in real-world applications of science.
- Scientific American – the oldest science magazine in America. Many world-famous scientists have contributed essays in the past.
- Field and Stream – a how-to magazine exploring hunting, trapping, tracking, fishing, and wild camping.
- Birds and Blooms – how to develop nature and wildlife in your backyard.
- Sports Illustrated – one of the world’s most widely read sports magazines.
- Wired – discusses emerging technologies, gadgets, and the application of science in everyday life.
- Brio – a Christian teen magazine focusing on faith and personal improvement.
- The New Yorker – quality essays, stories, and comments on current affairs.
- Time – an in-depth analysis of current affairs – ideal for a student interested in politics and the economy.
- American Cheerleader – the leading cheerleading magazine with a wide range of content each month.
- American Scientist – a bi-monthly and well-respected science publication.
Newspapers for teens
- Discounted Newspapers offers a great selection of newspaper subscriptions for national dailies and local titles. Users can search by state or ZIP code. For students who are less inclined to read books, as well as those in rural or isolated areas, daily and weekly newspapers provide an excellent way to improve literacy. Local newspapers often feature extensive coverage of the regional music scene, arts events, and high school sports.
Magazines for parents
- Your Teen – tries to make parenting teens less scary with lots of tried and tested and practical advice.
- Today’s Parent – advice for couples with very young children from birth to age 14.
- Practical Homeschooling – useful, evidence-based ideas and advice in a practical and easy-to-follow format.
Magazines for teachers
- Horn Book Magazine – a round-up of recently published children’s literature. Useful for the school library.
- School Arts – packed with interesting ideas for K-12 art teachers.
- ADDitude – a specialist professional magazine for teachers of children with ADD.
- Catechetical Review (Formerly Today’s Catholic Teacher) – focuses on the specific needs of teachers incorporating the Catholic faith into lesson planning.
- Music K-8 – great for music teachers in elementary and middle grades who need something instant and ready to teach.
