Science magazine for kids: Best Science Magazines for Kids, as Chosen by Teachers

In the age of technological progress, oddly enough, magazines for children are also in great demand. In search of something new and interesting, parents are increasingly teaching their children to flip through the binding, and read books and periodicals.

Children’s periodicals are divided into entertaining and educational, they are chosen according to age and interests. Many parents choose to subscribe to the periodicals their generation grew up reading. Top — 10 best children’s magazines collects the most interesting, instructive magazines that are worthy of the attention of parents and teachers.

As a rule, the age category is indicated on the cover of the publication.

Summary of the rating: (hide/show)

Rating of the best children’s magazines in 2023

10.

Young naturalist

about the flora and fauna of our planet. The publication contains many unique and educational headings: Pages of the Red Book, Why, Secrets of the Seas and Oceans, Notes of a Naturalist. In addition, in the print magazine, published for almost 93 years old, there is a section to help care for pets — Aibolit’s advice, puzzles — a clearing of games, unique fakes — do it yourself.
Age category 6 years and older. In the Protected Paths block, the authors describe their travels in various parts of the world. One Hundred Friends of One Hundred Colors — a rubric dedicated to all kinds of breeds of dogs and cats. In 2006, the publication was awarded the Golden Fund of the Press distinction.

Benefits:

• Educational information;
• Many headings;
• Electronic version;
• Numerous professional awards;
• Puzzles;
• Competitions;
• Illustrations;
• Intellectual meetings with readers;
• Reader’s trust and love.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Young Naturalist

9. Murzilka

Monthly literary and art magazine that brought up more than one generation. The first issue of the publication was published at 1924, since then he has received many awards and prizes. In 2014, the publication was awarded the prize of the Government of the Russian Federation for preserving the best traditions of Russian children’s literature. Special rubrics: Art Gallery, Red Book, Travels and discoveries, Let’s talk heart to heart. In the entertainment part, in addition to colorful illustrations, there are puzzles, rebuses, educational games, crossword puzzles, etc. The character of Murzilka, in the form of a little forest man, still lives on the pages of the magazine, pleases and guides his reader. In the magazine you can read modern works of Russian literature, detective stories and science fiction stories. Age: 6-12 years old.

Benefits:

• Electronic version available;
• Competitions;
• Interesting headings;
• Cost;
• Bright design;
• Instructive stories;
• Modern literature;
• Educational and entertaining;
• Trust of parents.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Murzilka

8. Kvantik

Monthly magazine for schoolchildren, has a scientific and educational character. The journal most often publishes entertaining and educational articles on physics, mathematics, and linguistics. Of particular interest to the publication is a large number of accompanying illustrations. Journal headings: do-it-yourself — making illustrations on mathematical and physical topics; look around — application of knowledge in the environment; mathematical fairy tales — the solution of mathematical problems, fairy tale characters; problem solving contests. In 2017, Kvantik was awarded the «Best Children’s Project on Science» at the All-Russian «For Loyalty»

Benefits:

• Fascinating headings;
• Cognitive character;
• Cost;
• Awards;
• Illustrations.

Flaws:

• Not found.

Children’s magazine Kvantik

7.

Cool magazine

The interactive magazine was first published in 1999. Target audience — children from 6-14 years old. The printed edition contains up-to-date information about cartoons, fairy tales, reviews of computer games. You can also find out sports news, scientific discoveries, etc. The publication is aimed at learning, developing creative abilities, thinking, developing memory, etc. Information publications are harmoniously complemented by a recreational part: jokes, comics, crosswords, tests, puzzles. The publication was approved by the Department of Education of Moscow. The heroes of the magazine are Pantukl and Zhukabra. Frequency: once every 2 weeks.

Benefits:

• Develops memory and thinking;
• It is both entertaining and educational;
• News;
• Cooking recipes;
• Colorful illustrations.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Cool magazine

6.

Luchik

Under «Test yourself! Believe in yourself! ”, a monthly children’s publication is published for the most inquisitive children who want to know the world. An abundance of family quizzes, tasks and materials, develop the child’s imaginative thinking, memory, intuition.
In 2018, the children’s periodical became the best in Russia, and received the Grand Prix of the all-Russian children’s competition «Magic Word». In addition to the standard headings, the Luchik magazine has a section — «The Works of Our Readers», where children send drawn pictures, the best of which are published on the pages of the magazine. Often the editors hold intellectual competitions, rewarding their readers. Age: 6 +

Benefits:

• There is an electronic version;
• Family magazine;
• Developmental;
• Cost;
• Frequency;
• Decoration;
• Many headings.

Flaws:

• Not found.

Children’s magazine Luchik

5.

Funny Pictures

Kind, Soviet and Russian literary and artistic humorous magazine for children from 4 to 12 years old. The monthly publication has been published since 1956, and to the delight of children, in large numbers. The symbol of the magazine, the Pencil, wearing an elegant beret and a red bow that many children remember. Competitions and exhibitions are an integral part of the publication’s policy. Fascinating puzzles, crossword puzzles, anecdotes make the magazine truly fun and entertaining.

Advantages:

• Electronic version;
• Bright and interesting;
• Competitions and exhibitions;
• Illustrations;
• Cost;
• Parental trust;
• Entertainment part.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Funny Pictures

4. PoniMashka

Entertaining and developing children’s magazine, aimed at readers from 3 to 7 years old. Special educational tasks in mathematics, grammar are presented in a playful way, which is very popular with children. As in most cases, there is also a character of the magazine, a bright Pony named Masha.
Issues of the magazine are thematic, and the main headings are: coloring pages and strokes, quick wit tasks and mazes, light and comic exercises.

Benefits:

• Focus;
• Development of fine motor skills and creativity;
• Development of thinking and logic;
• Colorful illustrations;
• Preschool;
• Thematic issues;
• Cost;
• Competitions;
• Electronic version available;
• Master classes.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine PonyMashka

3. Our Phillipok

Game, developing, popular science magazine for the most inquisitive, which has been published since 2011. The publication already has a regular audience of children, aged 7 to 10 years. Main headings: space, animals, Hero of my country, natural phenomena, recess, Filippka’s workshop, funny lessons, sports kaleidoscope, as well as stories and nursery rhymes. Periodical, rather voluminous (60 pages).

Advantages:

• Electronic version;
• Quizzes;
• Recipes;
• Jokes;
• DIY fakes;
• Master classes.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Nash Phillipok

2. Young Erudite

Popular science magazine suitable for children aged 9 years and older. The periodical is instructive and informative. Historical materials about discoverers and scientists, articles about space, technology, electronics. The magazine also describes simple experiments that can be done at home. The young polymath is published jointly with the French magazine Science & vie Junior. The text is written in a fairly accessible language and complemented by full-color illustrations. The magazine is predominantly suitable for boys.

Advantages:

• Problems and puzzles;
• Interesting materials;
• Instructive character;
• Quality binding;
• Electronic version;
• Cost.

Flaws:

• Not found.

1. Chitayka

Monthly colorful illustrated magazine for elementary school children, where the best literary works are collected. This is truly a journey into the world of books. The main headings of the publication: we read with the whole family, a reading room for readers, by cities and countries, a poem, a letter book, we open the world, creative lessons, a fairy tale with a sequel, funny poems, a poetic master class.

Benefits:

• Competitions;
• Literary crosswords;
• Develops thinking and imagination;
• Interesting headings;
• Vivid illustrations;
• Electronic version.

Drawbacks:

• None.

Children’s magazine Young erudite

In conclusion

Children’s magazine OYLA: «We want to teach children to think»

The second issue of the popular scientific magazine for schoolchildren and their parents OY has been published in Kazakhstan LA.

The appearance of such a publication is a real event in the country’s media industry. We talked to Asem Zhapisheva, editorial director of OYLA, about why a printed science magazine is needed for children and adults.

How did the idea of ​​creating a scientific magazine for children in Kazakhstan come about?

Just a couple of decades ago, children’s magazines, and specifically of a scientific direction, were very popular, almost every family received their own set every month: “Young Naturalist”, “Young Technician”, “Quantik”, today’s adults, parents perfectly remember articles that were published in the «golden years» of children’s publications.

Reading magazines was not just a form of leisure, it can be said that they were one of the cultural factors, due to their huge circulation and ubiquitous availability. Children grew up dreaming about space, traveling, scientific careers, they were versatile.

I don’t want to talk about the decline of education among today’s children or that they are absorbed in games, gadgets and so on — each generation has its own values ​​and strengths.

In the preface to the first issue, addressing the readers, we wrote: “Every day, amazing discoveries are made in the world, and how much is already known to mankind! And when we see, hear, read something talented, we want to tell everyone about it so that they know it too. This is how this magazine was born.

We want our children to know history, many languages, understand mathematics and physics, conduct chemical experiments and love all the variety of life forms on Earth. We want our children to be able to think.

By the way, that is why the magazine is called OYLA, which means “Think” in Kazakh.

Another important point — more than 60% of students in Kazakhstan receive education in the Kazakh language, at the same time, there is a catastrophic lack of literature, magazines for children in Kazakh. Therefore, our journal is published in two languages ​​in separate editions. Knowledge should be available to everyone.

Why was the print format chosen? After all, it is believed that the younger generation is closer to new technologies? Why not an app for tablets or mobile devices, not a website?

First, it has to do with the purpose and positioning of the magazine. We act as a kind of additional teaching aid. Textbooks often do not keep up with progress in science, besides, the format of a 45-minute lesson, where the teacher needs to explain the topic and check knowledge on the previous one, does not allow textbook compilers and teachers to “turn around”.

In our materials, we do not just explain, for example, quadratic equations, but tell how they appeared, what are the practical benefits of such knowledge — this knowledge helps students to delve deeper into the material.

Knowing and understanding these principles, there is no need to memorize formulas, the student will be able to reproduce it anyway.

Such knowledge is best consumed from a living, printed medium.

Also, studies of various aspects of the use of electronic books and gadgets in studies show that it is still preferable for children to use paper.

The magazine forces attention to be focused on the subject, without being distracted by unnecessary things, to concentrate attention. In addition, the speed of reading from paper media is 1.5 times higher than from electronic ones.

We will undoubtedly publish the electronic version as an application. But I would not want to just re-upload content to the Internet. Now our team is developing an interactive application that will complement the magazine: photos, videos, educational games.

How do you plan to monetize the publication?

Monetization of the magazine will be achieved through subscription and advertising. I am glad that advertisers and subscribers responded when even the first issue was not in the hard copy. They believed in us, for which we are very grateful to them.

We have also come up with a new distribution feature: we offer advertising in exchange for a corporate subscription. If the company has a sufficient number of employees with children, they can subscribe to the magazine for them and receive advertising from us in return. It works great, companies respond every day.
The publisher of the magazine is Lyudmila Utemuratova.

Who are the authors of the journal? How are authors selected?

The authors of the journal are scientific journalists, teachers and scientists. Each section is led by a recognized expert in their field, active scientists. The editorial team only adapts articles for children.

The rooms do not have a common theme. If you look, you will see that each issue is very diverse in terms of content and layout.

Are new technologies being used to create the magazine? Photobanks, online encyclopedias, and so on?

Yes, of course. For each article, we are looking for our own, unique solution. The OYLA design team are professionals in their field under the leadership of art director Alexander Fisher.

Illustrations are drawn by hand, interesting tricks, collages are invented. We try to constantly learn new things: we subscribe to the best publications from all over the world, monitor media news, and use all possible tools.