The 6 Best Magazines for Toddlers

Animals, colorful bugs and a talking train highlight the list of publications

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Here are some magazines for your younger kids—and even those who are not so young. This eclectic list of publications features a friendly talking train, pictures and stories featuring wildlife, cuddly bears, and a sparkling ballerina. The magazines, which also include posters, recipes, art activities, and nature-based stories, are designed for babies, toddlers, and young learners.

National Geographic Little Kids

National Geographic Little Kids magazine
Image provided by CJ.com

National Geographic Little Kids magazine includes animal stories, which develop reading skills, as well as answer questions about kids' favorite creatures. Features about different cultures bring the world to your child and inspire a sense of understanding. Interactive experiments introduce simple science and puzzles as well as games that teach logic and counting. The publication is for children ages 3 to 6.

Zootles

Zootles magazine

CJ.com

Zootles magazine, published by Zoobooks, is aimed at younger children. Each issue features a different new animal, providing children with basic knowledge of the animal's anatomy, habitat, and behavior. Each issue features a letter of the alphabet, phonetic sound, and number to help children apply basic skills while learning about the animal kingdom. The beautiful wildlife photography, cartoons, and illustrations will amuse children and parents alike.

Ladybug

Ladybug magazine

CJ.com

Ladybug is a colorful publication filled with charming characters, games, songs, poems, and stories for children ages 3 to 6. According to publisher Cricket Media, the magazine, which comes out nine times a year, includes "engaging stories and poems for preschoolers" and is:

  • A 2017 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner
  • A great magazine to inspire imagination
  • 100 percent ad-free

Babybug

Babybug magazine

CJ.com

Cricket media also publishes Babybug magazine, which encourages a love of books for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. Babybug is filled with colorful pictures and simple rhymes and stories that babies and parents can read together. Cricket says the publication, which also comes out nine times a year, is:

  • Also a 2017 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner
  • Designed for safety, including nontoxic ink on sturdy coated paper, rounded corners, and no staples
  • 100 percent ad-free

Highlights High Five

Highlights High Five magazine
Highlights

Highlights High Five magazine, for children ages 2 to 6, promotes reasoning, problem-solving and creative self-expression. Each issue features activities, puzzles and simple non-fiction for preschoolers. You can purchase a print or digital subscription—or both.

Ranger Rick Jr.

A Ranger Rick Jr. magazine cover featuring a lion

National Wildlife Fun

"Designed especially for kids ages 4 to 7,  'Ranger Rick Jr.' is filled with fun, age-appropriate animal facts, stories, and photos; ideas for outdoor fun; plus lots of games, crafts, and recipes," according to National Wildlife Federation, the organization the publishes the magazine. NWF, which is focused on "protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring the future generation of conservationists," also publishes two companion magazines: "Ranger Rick Cub" for children ages 0 to 4 and "Ranger Rick" for kids ages 7 and up.

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Hernandez, Beverly. "The 6 Best Magazines for Toddlers." ThoughtCo, Apr. 6, 2023, thoughtco.com/top-magazines-for-preschoolers-1833795. Hernandez, Beverly. (2023, April 6). The 6 Best Magazines for Toddlers. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/top-magazines-for-preschoolers-1833795 Hernandez, Beverly. "The 6 Best Magazines for Toddlers." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-magazines-for-preschoolers-1833795 (accessed March 28, 2024).