Newswise — Magazine subscriptions for adults are popular holiday gifts, particularly when the giver and receiver don't live near each other. Ordering is quick, easy, and there is no postage to pay. Magazine subscriptions can be welcomed gifts for kids too, especially from grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends who may live far away and don't know exactly what sizes to buy or the kind of toys their young people enjoy. Jack and Jill, Nick Jr, Time for Kids, and Ladybug along with many others all provide content especially for the younger crowd.
One of the oldest children's magazines, and still one of the best, is Ranger Rick, published by the National Wildlife Federation. Rick has captivated generations of young readers for over 40 years with amazing photos and articles about wildlife and wild places. It introduces kids to the wonders of nature and stimulates their imagination about the natural world around them. Research with readers of Ranger Rick says one of the things kids like best about the magazine is that "it teaches me things."
"Ranger Rick helped me see wildlife as something fun and exciting and curious rather than scary or dangerous," says James Gilardi, who read Ranger Rick as a child. Some of the critters featured in recent editions of the magazine include: crocodiles, penguins, green iguanas, pink-toed tarantulas, monkeys, salamanders, giant turtles, cheetahs, and ladybugs.
Another avid reader in his youth, Gregory Watkins-Colwell, from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, credits Ranger Rick with inspiring his chosen profession. "Ranger Rick first introduced me to the word 'herpetologist' (the study of reptiles and amphibians). I no longer said I was going to be an astronaut, firefighter or rock star when I grew up. No. I was going to be a herpetologist " and that's what I am today."
Winner of numerous educational awards, Ranger Rick encourages kids to get outside and explore the world of nature around where they live. Outdoor recreation has been replaced in large part by sedentary indoor activities such as watching television, using computers and playing video games. This trend isn't healthy for kids or for the future of conservation. If kids don't grow up with an appreciation for nature, it's unlikely they will advocate to protect it when they become adults.
Ranger Rick has always encouraged kids to be good stewards of the earth. Anna Lueck, age 11, says "Ranger Rick got me interested in gorillas, and I plan to use my lemonade stand as a fundraiser to help great apes."
You can order subscriptions for the young people in your life at Ranger Rick's web site at nwf.org/kids. This site also offers subscriptions for NWF's magazines for younger children, Wild Animal Baby and Your Big Backyard.
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