Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: magazine, nature's friend

This topic has 10 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by kellywright006.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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July 10, 2014 at 2:29 am
kellywright006
Participant
Hi All:
We have been getting national Geographics Kids (the little one for 3-5 year) for a few years now, and now are looking for a change.
I looked at Nature’s Friend sample online, and seems OK> Would you say it’s Cm friendly? Wansn’t sure it was after i saw sample. But, hard to tell.
Any other CM friendly magazines> The kids like magazines in the mail, mixes up reading ya know>
Thanks,
Kelly
July 10, 2014 at 11:51 am
Tristan
Participant
We’ve had Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr., National Geographic Kids and Little Kids, and a long time ago got a couple issues of Nature Friend. My kids have enjoyed each. Nature Friend is probably more CM to me, but it’s too expensive to me ($38). The kids love getting mail and we can get 2 subscriptions to the other magazines for LESS than the price of Nature Friend (so National Geographic Kids and Ranger Rick Jr, or National Geographic Little Kids and Ranger Rick, etc).
I think it really just depends on your preference!
July 10, 2014 at 12:42 pm
eawerner
Participant
Tristan – How are NG or RR as far as evolutionary content?
July 10, 2014 at 12:51 pm
MissusLeata
Participant
We get Zoobooks and Zootles. The kids really like them.
July 10, 2014 at 1:34 pm
Tristan
Participant
National Geographic Kids – Just looked through the last several issues and did not see any evolutionary content (though I know if they did an issue around dinosaurs that would be their perspective). However, one thing my kids really like about these may not appeal to everyone. They are not just about animals. Most of it is, but there are sometimes sections about current kid movies (How to Train your Dragon 2), inventions, and other things. In one issue I saw articles about modern day treasure discoveries, real animal rescue stories, another had a page about money, Guiness records (usually animal related), and exploration. As I said, mine love this variety sprinkled in, others may not.
Ranger Rick Jr – it is almost completely animal and nature focused. The depth of information is not quite as heavy, but is good for the ages intended. I didn’t see any evolution in these either.

I think both have beautiful photography. I think the National Geographic Kids has a less ‘quiet’ feel, with splashy color and more ostentatious text blurbs around photos. For us, having both is a good balance.
July 10, 2014 at 4:33 pm
lettucepatchkids
Participant
we get nature friend and it is VERY CM in my opinion. It is pricey… but I love it so much I’d rather get one quality magazine rather than a bunch of sub par ones… we make a way to get it, my MIL usually gives it as a gift for my older DD’s birthday. They have add on study guides too that I’d love to get eventually. One feature that I absolutly love is the “You Can Draw…” article, my kids love to do that!
July 10, 2014 at 4:34 pm
lettucepatchkids
Participant
I have a $3 off code for Nature Friend, which I believe is good for one person, if anyone is interested PM me 🙂
July 10, 2014 at 4:49 pm
psreitmom
Participant
I recently renewed our subscription to Nature Friend. We had been getting it for a year. i didn’t know if I should renew because of the cost, but when I mentioned it to my husband, he said to renew it becauue he likes to read it. It is a very nice nature magazine. Colorful pictures. I will read it some days for our science. Each issue gives a nature picture (usually an animal) to draw and kids will send their drawings in and get them posted in the magazine. There is also a study guide you could get which includes things like puzzles, questions and answer, topics to research, nature writing lessons, recipes, and gardening tips. I am not getting it because of cost, but if you were wanting to supplement your science curriculum, it would be worth it. We don’t get many magazines because most are a waste of money. But, I think Nature Friend is worth the cost.
July 10, 2014 at 4:52 pm
HollyS
Participant
We had subscriptions to Nature Friend and Creation Illustrated magazines this past year and enjoyed both.
God’s World News is another option, but it isn’t as CM friendly. My DC also love Lego magazine. It’s free and gives them lots of ideas for building with their legos. It does have lots of cartoony type stuff (last issue was Ninja Turtles) and comic book type pages. There isn’t much educational value, but I notice them pulling out the legos shortly after an issue arrives. It’s not nature related at all, but something they enjoy getting in the maill.
July 10, 2014 at 6:42 pm
mama_nickles
Participant
We got Ranger Rick last year for my DS. DH and I pre-read each issue, and there was definitely evolutionary content. We did not renew it this year.
July 10, 2014 at 8:23 pm
kellywright006
Participant
Great converstation. Thank you for your suggestions. I will look into the ones I’d never heard of! Sounds like Nature’s Friend is good, I didn’t know it was SO $$$.
We get God’s World News, and it is such a lovely magazine highlighting the world’s current events through a Godly lense. Highly recommend. This will be our 4th year with it. My non-book-loving daughter can’t wait to READ it when it comes. BONUS!