My copy of Ladybug magazine arrived in the mail a couple of days ago. It’s always colorful and full of stories and poems to read, plus it’s not junk mail or a bill, so I get a little excited whenever it comes.

Do you remember being a kid and getting something in the mail with your name on it? I do. It made me feel special, adult-like, as if I really existed. That special feeling is just one reason why a magazine makes a great addition to a kid’s reading resources. What else does a child receive when you give them a subscription to a magazine?

Activities that engage
Most kid’s magazines have at least a few activities in addition to stories. These puzzles, cutouts, recipes, experiments and more encourage a child’s natural curiosity. They offer parents of young children ways to further connect with their kids in a manner that goes beyond reading. Magazines for older kids will often have crossword puzzles that children can accomplish on their own and drawing or writing contests that allow kids to engage in creative endeavors with a wider community.

Cultural exposure
Children’s magazines often contain stories about cultural differences and similarities. A story about the games children play in countries around the world or a poem about the bedtime rituals of children living in the city vs. the country, for example, show children what they have in common with other kids, plus some fascinating differences. There are books out there, of course, that address tolerance of other cultures, but children’s magazines provide steady exposure to these types of stories, which ask kids to think outside their own worlds.

Comforting routine
As adults, we have our routines and rituals that help keep us sane in a hectic world. For some of us, it’s a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper or news websites. For others, it’s hitting the gym before work. Kids need routines just as much, if not more than, adults. The arrival of a beloved magazine on a regular schedule acts as a symbol of stability. Regular characters that show up in the mailbox in the form of a magazine story can feel like good friends coming to visit. Ladybug magazine, for instance, begins every issue with a story called Max and Kate and ends with a cartoon called Molly and Emmett. Plus, throughout each issue there’s hilarious commentary from a trio of delightful characters: Ladybug, Muddle and Thud.

Do you think a magazine subscription would be a great gift for a child in your life? Here are 6 sites to explore to find just the right one:

1. Cricket Media publishes a variety of magazines for different ages and interests, including literary fiction, such as Ladybug, and non-fiction, like Dig.

2. Highlights publishes three magazines, each for a different age range. These publications are chock-full of activities and brain-stimulating puzzles.

3. National Geographic Kids, much like the adult version, is for kids curious about exploring the planet, natural science and geography.

4. For your little sports lover, there’s Sports Illustrated Kids.

5. U.S. Kids puts out two magazines, one for ages 2-6 years called Humpty Dumpty and one for ages 6-12 called Jack and Jill.

6. Does your kid love to help you bake or cook? Ingredient might be just the right magazine to spark their own culinary creativity.

In addition to these, there are also super niche magazines for kids who are into things like riding horses and creating their own fashion designs. They can easily be found by going to any of the magazine subscription sites like magazines.com.

Did you have a favorite magazine when you were growing up? Do your kids already have a favorite that they can’t wait to receive in the mail? Let me know about it in the comments section below.