Kris’ Korner

Many parents spend the last part of the day reading to their children before putting them to bed. Experts recommend that parents keep reading to their children for as long as their children will tolerate it. Kids who hear their parents reading to them will grow up believing its okay to read.

Many kids, once they get older, will even choose to read to younger siblings or cousins. While educational books seem like the best choice of reading material for kids, let them have a little fun and pick out the books they find entertaining. You can cultivate a passion for literature further by indulging them in a customized childrens book.

When I was growing, my parents emphasized the importance of being informed and actively seeking to discover the world around me. They bought me several subscriptions to magazines for children, including Zoo Books and Sports Illustrated for Kids. Although it has been years since I’ve read them, and I can’t recall any specific information off-hand, reading magazines at a young age has cultivated a lifelong passion for knowledge.

We’ve all read the horror stories about the death of print publications, but there are still several reputable magazines and newspapers that rely on the revenue from the print editions. While there is a myriad of information available online, you often don’t know where it is coming from and how credible it is. Nevertheless, I enjoy reading online newspapers and features. The constant gazing at a computer monitor, however, is horrible for eye sight and I often refer back to the old print copy.

Getting your kids excited about reading can be a challenging task. With TV, iPods and the internet, children are often reluctant to sit down and take the time to read. Although electronic media can be a solid source of information, reading engages children’s’ minds in a unique way.

Instead of forcing your child to read books and other “educational” materials, try getting them a magazine. Whether your kid is into sports, animals or the planets, you can find a magazine that will interest and engage them. Childrens magazines are available with a variety of themes and contain up-to-date information.

One of the time-honored traditions of childhood is being read a bedtime story. No matter how much you love spending time with your kids, there are inevitably going to be nights where reading them a story is just not a possibility. With the new movie “Where the Wild Things Are” coming out this week, I decided to revisit one of my favorite children’s stories.

After typing the name into a search engine, I was surprised to find a version of the book on YouTube. The video clip showed all of the pictures from the book while being narrated with feeling and emotion. Online childrens books are a great way to introduce your kids to reading and make sure they always have a bedtime story.

Growing up, I was no different from most kids in that I despised trips to the dentist’s office. When the little reminder postcard arrived in the mail, I would try to hide it in a stack of bills, just praying that my parents wouldn’t notice. But to no avail – I always wound up being dragged to the familiar waiting room. My dread would subside, however, as soon as I remembered the stockpile of Highlights magazines for kids in the corner.

Unlike my mother’s fashion magazines and my dad’s golf journals, these mags contained stories that appealed to my age group. Looking back, I’ve come to realize how many lessons I learned just from reading Highlights. The publishers recognized that children have a hard time discerning irony, so they laid things out their moral lessons in black-and-white terms that were relatable to kids.

Ever Since the launch of  Highlights Magazine for children over 60 years ago, the company has been committed to helping children discover their creativity, sensitivity to others and promoting that children are the most important people.  Highlights Magazine is dedicated to not only helping children but to parents and educators as well, so they can help nuture children.

With over two million readers monthly this wonderful childrens magazine has so many activities like problem solving, stories, wonder about the world and inspiring self-confidence and much more.  Highlights has developed childrens magazines for all age groups ranging from 3 to 12 years of age all with different activities and life skills.  Just think how excited your children will be to receive a copy of  Highlights Magazine in the mail just for them.

When it comes to reading, kids often need a bit of encouragement to get started.  It’s hard for a child to sit down and read a book that is just page after page of text, especially in this modern age with computers, video games, and interactive television.  One of the best ways to get kids started reading is with comics, kids magazines, and children’s books.  Comics have been a prominent part of American culture for more than a century, and are a fun way to encourage kids to become interested in reading.  Kids magazines that feature animals, fun activities, or popular characters are another great way to get kids interested in reading.  Children’s books are a more classic method to encourage reading, but for some kids who are of reading age, children’s books can seem a little too ‘childish’ for a big kid. 

No matter what method you choose, it’s also important to read with your child on a regular basis.  While reading to your child is good, reading with your child will allow your child to learn and to spend time together with their parent.