Hey fellow parents!
We're always on the lookout for a kids' magazine that's both fun and educational, and I think I've finally found a winner.
My son's current favorite is the 'Tom and Jerry' comic book magazine, but it's no longer in print. You can only find it at second-hand bookstores or in digital format (I found it on Ozone), or if it's still available at children's libraries (we've read it multiple times with our son).
But what really caught our attention is Neposeda, a children's educational magazine. The best part? It's significantly cheaper when you subscribe by mail.
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This magazine is packed with interesting and educational content, including comics, stories, fairy tales, games, labyrinths, coloring pages, cut-outs, dot-to-dot drawings, comparisons, crosswords, and more.
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The cover is eye-catching, but it's quite thin, and library copies often have scotch tape holding them together, which can easily tear off.
Neposeda Children's Magazine Neposeda Children's MagazineAnd then there are the comics. My son isn't in school yet, but he reads well for his age, and comics are one of his favorite sections in the magazine, which he's read multiple times, at least five times. We even tease him about it, saying, 'You're memorizing comics for your memory!'
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'I've got to give a shoutout to the game designers for the 'Walking and Roaming' games - they're spread throughout the magazine and are designed for a quick, short playtime. The number of turns can vary depending on the dice rolls, but it's a fun little bonus for my kid.
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'As we play more games, my kid starts to get the numbers they need on the dice more often, but it's not like they're getting them all the time. The stories and fairy tales are usually educational, but not as engaging as the comics. If my kid doesn't feel like reading, they can skip them without feeling guilty.
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'
Russian Toddler Magazine 'Neposeda'xa0
I love how my kid gets to solve all sorts of puzzles and brain teasers in their favorite order, without any hassle, as long as they're engaged.
Kid's magazine 'Neposeda'
Kid's magazine 'Neposeda'Each task comes with a description, so there's no guessing required.
Kid's magazine 'Neposeda'Pop-out puzzles are also super fun, but in library magazines, they're only for show.
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This particular task is a challenge even for me, as I've tried explaining it to my family, but no matter how hard I try, they just can't seem to spot the hidden picture.
Kid's magazine 'Neposeda'Each issue is packed with tasks, new characters, and vibrant page designs.
Kid's magazine 'Neposeda'
A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kidsI remember when we used to buy separate puzzle books, and my kid would be completely absorbed in them. Now, one page of a magazine like this is enough to keep them entertained for a while, as long as it's their own, of course. We're lucky that our library allows us to use their books with washable markers, but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable letting my kid draw all over it, so we stick to our own.
A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kids
The point-to-fill-in pictures are a lot of fun, and it's great that we don't need to buy a whole book for them anymore. One page is enough to keep my kid busy for a while, especially with 28 pages to explore.
A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kids
A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kidsCrosswords are a great way to keep my kid engaged, and they often leave them for 'later', but it's nice to see them working on them independently.
A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kids A magazine like 'Neposeda' for kidsThere are many different activities to choose from, but the end result is always the same: my kid is happy and engaged in their own learning.
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan'
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan'
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan' More examples of tasks from different issues
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan'
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan' Sometimes tasks are even on the last pages of the magazine
Kids' magazine 'Hooligan' 'Hooligan' comes out twice a month, there's enough tasks for about a week of relaxed work, I'm glad my kid starts working on the tasks they like on their own, thinks, ponders, and gets engaged in completing them.
Let's make a summary:
Pros: the magazine is both educational and entertaining. There are plenty of tasks to suit different tastes and ages, from preschoolers to younger school kids. The pictures are bright and appealing, and every issue includes a mandatory 'Hooligan's Walkabout' game.
The downsides for us were the flimsy cover, which kept trying to slip out of the journal in most cases. Another issue was the Halloween-themed pictures and tasks – that's just not our 'thing.' I mean, how can 'victory of death' be considered a celebration? That's what you get when you change the spelling of 'Halloween' by removing just one letter. I've been explaining to my kids that we shouldn't delve into such themes, especially when it comes to something we don't consider part of our cultural heritage.
Thanks for reading!