Reviews (18)

BEST value -- BEST info - especially for new parents!
Today I am a Grandmother. But back in 1979, when I was so very young and newly-married, I depended on PARENTS magazine to help guide me throughout my pregnancy and the first year of my newborn daughters' life.

The articles are topical, and so informative to parents of all ages.

I gave a subscription of PARENTS to that same daughter three years ago before the birth of her own son, my grandson. She continues to receive PARENTS every month.

PARENTS is a magazine I will renew every year - for her, and for me.

A wealth of useful information
This is primarily my wife's subscription, so this is mostly her input - she has me read a couple features each month. There are so many things she finds useful about the magazine - I can tell you she spends several hours reading each issue and regularly cuts out articles to save in our "parenting" file or to put on the fridge. Here are just a few of the great regular features of each monthly issue:

- "As They Grow", pointers and insights related to a particular subject, one each for eight different age groups (from pregnancy to pre-teen years)
- "can you help?", suggestions from readers about how to handle a common problem, such as the dentist or cutting your child's nails
- Suggestions to keep your child busy in the house
- An Emergency Guide pull-out for dealing with various situations like electrical shock, bee stings, etc.
- Product recalls, usually with pictures
- Product testing and reviews (similar to Consumer Reports)

Why not 5 stars? There are a couple annoying features in the magazine, such as "out of the mouths of babes" and some of the suggestions for children's activities around the house sound easier to do than they really are (sort of like what people say about Martha Stewart). It can also be a bit of a downer to read the stories about serious illnesses some children have had and how their families cope - not always what you're in the mood for when you're thinking about your own healthy child. But overall, this magazine is the best one out there for parents AND they are branching out - we recently started receiving Baby Parents. It's tough to know everything about raising your child so outside sources of information are key. Parents magazine is a great resource that has been well worth the small subscription price.

A Good Magazine
I like this magazine mostly for the activities and the developmental articles. I agree with some of the other reviews that say that it's "age-biased," but you have to remember that when they publish a magazine, they are targeting a specific audience. 18-34 IS their target audience. If you don't fit in that range, then buy another magazine! I don't buy Cosmo girl because, duh, I'm not a teen-ager anymore. I think this magazine has fun ideas and helpful information about baby products (such as consumer reports and recall information on strollers, carseats, toys, etc). And contrary to other reviews, they DO feature children of all different races, they DO have articles on children who are physically/mentally challenged, and they DO have articles on the benefits of breastfeeding. I don't expect their material to cater to my exact lifestyle (I haven't seen an article about vegan babies yet and I'd like to see something about cloth diapering) but I think they do a good job of trying to include all different kinds of families and parenting styles.

Great Magazine But Poor Business Practices
As an owner of a day care center/director educator, I did recommended Parents magazine - but no longer - I have cancelled. With 5 months remaining on my 2004 subscription, I began to receive collection letters with a increasing threatening tone ("protect your credit,etc.") for subscription extension to 2006. My letters to a PO Box (no telephone # is listed)on their "invoice letters" produced no action. You don't want this hassle.

It is unfortunate that attempts to force renewal is destroying the reputation of a top notch magazine.

Charlotte Johnson
Allen, Texas

Fabulous Magazine
I have subscribed to this publication for 3 1/2 years now and loved every issue. I'm always able to find something of value and an article to share with my husband. I especially appreciate the reviews of children's books, toys and music. They have excellent suggestions. I've used this as a baby gift for showers multiple times and always received on-going thanks as they receive the magazine each month! ... Read more

Abstract

General interest, nonfiction reading.Many articles are condensations of articles from other publications.
... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Best of All the Rest.
READER'S DIGEST is one of the most popular and circulated magazines in the world. READER'S DIGEST takes the best articles, interviews, and stories from all sorts of other publications (medical journals, newspapers, other magazines) and combines them into one easy to read magazine. The articles are timely and current. Yet, the publication contains departments that have been a part of the magazine almost from the beginning (Humor in Uniform, Word Power, Quotable Quotes). Unless you are one who subscribes to or reads several different magazines, you will probably not find a more compact source of reading than in READER'S DIGEST.

Not a big reader? This magazine is perfect.
I love Reader's Digest. It's full of wonderful short stories, great jokes and very informative health information. This magazine is not full of "fluff" like some others. RD is always a great read that is very easy to understand.

Too much fluff
Reads like a wish for the halcyon days of the 50's.
Their conservative articles ring hollow in the real world.
Each "feature", section & article follows a set formula. If you've read one RD in the last ten years you've read them all.

Low quality magazine with a right wing slant
Reader's Digest has morphed into something akin to a cross between "Guideposts" and "Modern Maturity". It's shallow articles almost always provide a spiritual or a patriotic slant. Most definitely, one can tell this is a magazine who's target audience is the over-60, "minds-made-up" crowd.

If you're looking for challenging, thought-provoking reading, this is NOT it.

Low quality magazine, Not Recommended.
I have known and subscribed to Reader's Digest on and off for almost 30 years. It is true that up until about ten years ago or so they were a good magazine that offered a lot of value for the money. After a ten year lapse I decided to resubscribe for my wife's reading pleasure. I was surprised how thin the articles have grown from it's former days. And the articles were of poor quality. Features with like Julia Roberts made it seem more like a gossip magazine. My wife indicated she was not interested to renew after subscription expired. So I allowed it to expire. However Reader's Digest kept sending magazines. After the third issue they complained I have not paid for their paper. Then they stopped sending magazines but kept sending me harrasing letters demanding payment. Finally they threatened to forward me to their collection agency if I don't pay up. Rather then to go through the hassle of vindicating myself I sent payment. On the check I clearly indicated on both sides to Cancel Subscription. I further added by cashing this check they acknowledge my request to cancel. They did cash the check, ignored my request and reinstated the unwanted subscription. I am currently in process of hiring an attorney to help me with this case and I am reporting them to the Better Business Bureau. ... Read more

From Amazon.com

What does family fun mean to you? Crafts? Recipes? Party ideas? Travel tips? FamilyFun magazine dishes up these and more boredom-defying activities in over 180 splashy, colorful pages. Geared toward parents with young children, this energetic magazine promises to enrich the lives of families. Offering a "we've been there, we know" sort of comfort to parents, folksyfirst-person articles let parents know they're not alone. A sense of community is expanded further in the "My Great Idea" section--culled from readers' letters--that suggests kid-tested ideas for everything from summer games to rainy-day projects. Homeschoolers will find plenty to ponder as well--a winter issue, for example, describes how a snowflake takes shape, then suggests a paper snowflake-making project. Reviews of digital games, books, videos, and DVDs, written by industry experts, help parents feel up to the minute. FamilyFun is positively inspirational to parents who want to shake up the routine and keep the magic in a family. --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Absolutely the BEST magazine out there
This is ABSOLUTELY the best family magazine out on the market today. It beats the others hands down for creative ideas and their suggestions and ideas are easy, fast and no hassle for working parents to be able to do with their kids. Their vacation/travel tips are great too. I like that they rate different places based on how much there is for different age groups to do at each place - it takes a lot of the guess work out of family vacation planning! The articles are informative, well written, and interesting. The crafts are easy to do, require little creative ability (so literally anyone can do them), and generally do not involve specialty items that are hard to find. I really like the fact that this magazine is more geared towards helping families have fun with each other while recognizing that not all of us have 3 hours each day to devote to doing the activities that they suggest. Most of the crafts and activities can be done in less than an hour and they are just as easy for younger kids as they are for older kids but are still interesting to both age groups. This magazine also doesn't "scare" parents with articles on complicated and rare developmental / medical problems. They present articles on common problems that are well researched, thought out, and well written. A definite must have for any busy parent who still wants to be able to do stuff with their kid(s).

Where has this magazine been all my life?
I have only recently discovered this magazine. It is the first general family/parenting type subscription that I have. [I exclude the one on international adoption as being too specific.]

The articles about parenting are sensitive, simple, parent-driven, and to the point. No perfect parents or perfect kids reside here. The articles about decorating are ideas created & executed by real people in real homes. The monthly article for the budding cook is a major favorite in our home. My children are 7 & 8. Both are able to find more than one craft idea per magazine that they can do with minimal supervision from me.

The editors get my five stars just for the monthly 'Budding Cook' recipe. Although I have a couple of cookbooks for kids, these are far better. Here they can make real food that they can share with the family, not just sweets and novelties.

And yes, I will be giving them as gifts, one to a grandmother [4 pre-school or grade school] and another to a new mother [adopting 2 school aged children] and another to . . .
Well you get the idea.

I could go on and on, but it sums up as a magazine that presents articles and ideas that are 'consumer tested.' It is a point of view I find missing from most of the other 'family mags'.

Not Only for Those With Kids!
I was introduced to this magazine by a family friend who does have kids. However, I do not have any children and I love it! It gives me great recepie, craft and home ideas. I can use them in my own home or for my students or my Brownie Troop!

Michigan Mom loves this magazine
Almost every mom at my children's school (and teacher's too) use this magazine for party ideas. I have made countless recipes for parties that always get high praises from the kids. I also have done many of the crafts in the classrooms as well. Ideas from readers are also great. I don't know what I would do without it!

Fun not advice
There is no limit to magazines that give advice on how to raise your kids. If being the coolest parent on the block with great ideas for fun projects, the best birthday parties, creative new solutions to help organize around the house... then this is the magazine for you. With even more information online to search through when you need more ideas, it is worth its weight in gold. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Outstanding resource if you have children!
Love the product reviews, the short articles specifically geared at my child's age group, and the easy to make recipes. This magazine is a valuable resource as it seems to always address the issues I'm having with my child when they occur (are they clairvoyant or am I not alone? J I recently hosted my son's second birthday party based on ideas from Parenting and the party was a smash and I wasn't exhausted after dealing with 4 other two-year olds!

Best of the bunch
New moms (and some dads, I suppose) gobble up magazines about child rearing, which is why the ads are geared toward baby products. I think Parenting is the best magazine in the genre because of its evenhanded approach to issues that sometimes divide us (working vs. stay-at-home, etc.), its articles that delve into subjects rather than scratching the surface and the useful what-to-expect-from-each-age-group feature. The column by Dr. Sears is invaluable; I find his common-sense advice to be comforting. Well-written, well-edited; Parenting deserved to win the prestigious Magazine of the Year award because its editors know their readership well.

Great all-around parenting mag
I have been a subscriber for over 2 years and as a 1st time mom I find it quite informative- there are great health and development articles in addition to lots of info on new products - I'd say it is just as good as Parents. The nice thing is that there is lots of info on school-age children, even tweens, so it may be one worth getting for a few more years. I find myself clipping lots of the articles, recipes, etc- I only wish they had more articles for single parents. Note: if you are pregnant or a new mom be sure to get American baby too, you can get a free subscription online.

Parenting Magazine Customer Service is HORRIBLE!!!!
I placed 2 international orders (for France) to Parenting Magazine, by telephone, in December-- one to be delivered to a friend, the other to be delivered to me. I sent an e-mail, and then called their customer service center on February 6/7th to verify these orders. At that time, the customer service representative checked the orders, and said that we should be getting our subscriptions in a few weeks. My friend received her first issue a few weeks after my call. When I still hadn't received my issue, I phoned Parenting Magazine's customer service again. After being transferred (and put on hold 3 times-- international calls are NOT toll free!) a representative was FINALLY able to find my account. She then told me that the record showed no zip code or city name for me, and once rectified, I would start to receive my issues. My first issue would now be Mays', which I wouldn't receive until 6 - 8 weeks AFTER it came out-- so, some time in July-- SEVEN MONTHS after I initially placed the order, because of THEIR mistake!! I promptly cancelled the order, and wrote their customer service to complain and to try and rectify the situation (I really wanted the magazine!!) Today I received an automatic response email that told me how to order an international subscription-- what????

I am very, VERY upset, to say the least. International subscriptions to U.S. magazines are not cheap-- but I was willing to pay DOUBLE the U.S. cover price, for myself AND my friend. I think it is ridiculous the way Parenting treats their foreign subscribers-- there is no reason that I should have had to go through so much trouble (via email AND phone) to get to the bottom of this, there is no reason that the second customer service rep. didn't catch the first one's mistake, and there is NO reason that the customer service rep. that was FINALLY able to find my order should have been so rude to me when I was understandably upset while speaking to her. I believe Parenting is put out by Time, Inc.-- not exactly an "upstart" company-- shouldn't they have worked out the kinks of processing a simple international order by now?? I'm ALSO upset that their response to a customers inquiry is a generic email response (that didn't even answer the question!!) I will definitely look for another magazine...UGH!

Better than the average family magazine
This magazine is packed with articles and information. They do an excellent job covering the range of ages from baby to pre-teen. I've read this magazine since pregnancy, and three years later, I still pick up new tips and suggestions in each issue. I can understand how it might not be for everyone, hence some negative reviews, but I highly recommend it and often give subscriptions to it as gifts. ... Read more

Abstract

Monthly with two issues Feb, Apr, Sept, Nov 17X/YR.Features articles dealing with the home & family. Addresses family issues of health, diet, nutrition, beauty & fitness, social entertaining. Includes articles on women's issues & helpful how-to tips.
... Read more

Reviews (6)

Home Economics 101
Family Circle is a fairly good magazine that features articles on family life, raising kids, travel, personal finance, home improvements, and more. It is primarily directed at the female population, with articles that emphasize the roles that mother's play in household management.

The articles that feature recipes and family life form the bulk of the stories in Family Circle. Less common are the articles involving personal finance and other topics. These financial articles are a nice addition, and I was surprised when I first saw them in this magazine. But potential readers should be forewarned that these articles are not very in- depth. They only skim the surface of finance, talking about such simple matters as balancing a checkbook, refinancing a home, and paying off credit card debt. You aren't going to find a story about purchasing stock options or selecting tech stocks. Family Circle keeps it simple and covers only those financial topics that are relevant to taking care of the home and daily living.

Family Circle is published 15 times per year, with a low subscription cost. It may not cover topics as thoroughly as other, more specific magazines and it can sometimes get a little repetitive from month to month. But it's a pretty good magazine overall, with tips on cooking, cleaning, fashion, raising kids, and taking care of one's home.

Sometimes good, sometimes not...
Skip it and get Woman's Day which is consistently better. I had subscriptions to both and cancelled this one.

Unhappy with subscription service
I subscribed to family circle after buying it on the newsstand for the past 2 years. I was very unhappy to receive an old issue that I had already bought at the newsstand. I wrote a complaint on the bill and refused to pay the bill. I think the magazine is great but
the subscription process was a bad experience. Hopefully it will be rectified

TRIED AND TRUE
I LOVE FAMILY CIRCLE. IT'S SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER. WHEN I AND MY SIBLINGS WERE GROWING UP MY MOM USED IT'S RECIPES AND HOUSEKEEPING IDEAS (ALWAYS WITH GOOD RESULTS). THE MAGAZINE CONTINUES TO GROW AND ADAPT TO CURRENT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND TO OFFER WONDERFUL RECIPES, CRAFTS, ARTICLES, ETC. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE HOME DECOR IDEAS (THOUGH I WISH THERE WERE MORE OF THESE). WHEN I MOVED INTO MY CURRENT HOME I BOUGHT SO MANY DECORATING/DESIGN MAGAZINES SEARCHING FOR IDEAS TO GET MY NEW PLACE INTO SHAPE. THE BEST DESIGN IDEAS I FOUND WERE IN FAMILY CIRCLE.

Hmmm.. I cancelled my subscription
A few months ago I cancelled my subscription.

I found a very deceiving 8-page advertisement, made up to look like a special insert of articles, all about the glories of drugging our children.

This little section included a list of "symptoms" of mental illness in our children. They included normal childhood behaviors, like fidgeting and restlessness, interrupting the conversations of others, and difficulty concentrating in the midst of a noisy environment. Oh... another lovely "symptom"... easily bored. (And I thought that was a sign of a bright child who is under-challenged!)

The recommended treatment for this "mental disorder" was drugging, of course. The drugs recommended are Schedule II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (in the same category as cocaine and methamphetamine). These articles did not, of course, mention the serious potential side effects of these drugs - including seizures, Tourette's Syndrome, heart problems. Nor was the high risk of suicide mentioned. (As children have been taken off these drugs as they reach puberty, some have been known to attempt or commit suicide.)

Because this 8-page advertisement was veiled as a series of articles (thereby implying editorial endorsement of these drugs) and because Family Circle Magazine, per their own advertising rates, received well over a MILLION DOLLARS for this drug pushing, I have concluded that this magazine does NOT care about the welfare of FAMILIES at all.

The bottom line is the Big Buck.

I'm not falling for it, and so I'll never purchase this magazine again!

There is NOTHING wrong with expecting the companies we support to make ethical decisions. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

FOR THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED...
This magazine is a compilation of articles and stories from other magazines. They run the gamut from science, medical, adventure, business, sports, you name it. It seems to focus somewhat on the inspirational and motivational. It also has numerous features that are sure to jar the reader's funny bone and are derived from the contributions of its readers. All in all, it is a nice little package of information and features that is sure to be read from cover to cover. It is a very mainstream magazine designed to have broad appeal and, consequently, is not intellectually demanding of its reader.

Its large print enables those who are visually challenged to enjoy it. The only caveat is that this large print version is the size of a regular magazine rather than pocket-sized, as is the smaller print version. Still, this large print version enables those who had previously enjoyed the pocket version but who now, perhaps due to age, find its small print difficult to read, to continue to enjoy the magazine.

Expensive
Although RD has always been a good read the large print edition contains less articles than the small print edition. I can't see why they need to charge DOUBLE the price ($30.)of a normal subscription ($15.). It seems that the people who need the large print the most can least afford the higher price.

RIP OFF
I ordered this magazine for my mother in law for mother's day. It was never received. Very embarrassing on our part. Have emailed both amazon and reader's digest, no action taken. I found out later that my mother in law has tried and PAID for a subscription to this magazine twice before but NEVER RECEIVED IT! BEWARE! They are not trustworthy. Very disappointed in the magazine and in Amazon.com for handling it.

Finally, a Large Print Magazine that isn't childish!
For years Reader's Digest has offered a Large Print format, but it was more expensive, had less articles, and few, if any, photographs.
Now, not only do they offer a Braille version (I rather doubt the photography there,buut since I have not yet read one, do not know if they use embossing instead), but the large print version is just as good as the usual bathroom read, without the eyestrain! I am thrilled with this change, as my vision deteriorates I know I can still keep reading "Reader's Digest"!
They cull articles and quotes from a great deal of printed media, as well as encouraging readers to submit their own findings or experiences.
Quotable Quotes is often amazing as to who said what, and Word Power is a challenge every single time. For inspiration, public awareness (Did you know you can write to a medical company for a small artificial breast to see if you are checking yours appropriately? Really!), a laugh of kindred humor, whether it be "Humor in Uniform", or "Life is the United States" (Which is now world-wide), or "That's Outragious!" (which points out cases of the Law vs. Justice), or just the tagline pieces at the end of articles; it's all good.
This magazine tries to bring you the best of the best.

Find your inspiration here, an alternative perspective, new ideas, concepts, and quite often, the chance for true insight into the lives of others.

Best Magazine Ever!!
This magazine is very easy to read, and, the stories are actually interesting!! Stories about convicted murderers, life in the united states, true life stories, history, and scientific facts. You won't find a better magazine anywhere else! The moment I got the first issue I sat down and read all of it. Everything you expect in a magazine packed into one easy-to-read subscription. I highly reccommend it. The only thing that cost this magazine one star is that sometimes a few of the stories can be very boring, but everything else is terrific! ... Read more

Abstract

Complete service book for expectant and new parents. Particularly women 18-34 who are first time mothers. It addresses the health and medical concerns of pregnancy and child care.
... Read more

Reviews (13)

Thanks American Baby!
I can't think of any other company, especially children or parenting magazines that even offers a free subscription like American Baby does although I don't mind paying for mine. I love the articles and the advertising, and I was blessed enough to have my little girl's face in the May issue this year 2004! I haven't seen the actual copy yet so I am extremely excited to get my issue from the mail box!
Keep up the good work!

Not Worth It
This was so not worth it. My parents were able to scrape enough money together to surprise me with a subscription to this when I was pregnant with my first child. SInce I didn't know this, I had applied for the free subscription. Well, lets just say that between both subscriptions I didn't even recieve all of the issues. And the few that I did recieve, I was dissapointed with. There were several wonderful articles but most of it was just fluff. Every time there were baby gear recommendations, it was almost always from the more expensive end of the line. They need to do reviews on everything available so we can make better informed choices. It's as if they assume that all women have thousands of dollars to spend when they start having their children. I had $500 and I was lucky to have that. When there were coupons, it was always for stuff that I didn't or couldn't use.

rediculous
I am not a parent, though I love children .... some how have been recieving magazines which I had not requested nor ordered ....now I suppose they will soon be sending me bills as well. I do not appericate companies like theese to buy peoples information in the effort to bill them unnessiarly. It in mine eyes is REDICULOUS!!! So I in the future will NOT be in any way promoting this company ... besides the fact that I am currentially strugling with finances, and have enough to deal with on theese hectic holiday seasons such as this one, I would like to say please ,NO MORE. (I request removel from your mailing list.) Happy Holidays... God Bless

Don't Buy This Magazine!
You can receive this magazine for free by visiting their website! This is an excellent magazine for new parents! I enjoy reading each issue!

Way too many ads for formula!
This magazine has a lot of fluff and not much substance. It is not that informative - Parents, Parenting, and esp. Mothering are much better. Also, it is not very nursing friendly and is full of ads for formula.

This magazine is available for free from packets you'll get at ob office or hospital (maybe due to sponsorship by formula companies?) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Different from all the rest
I had never heard of Child magazine until I picked up a copy at my gym. The layout and look of the magazine intrigued me. I had received a year's worth of Parenting and other magazines that most parents get free for their baby's first year of life. They were okay, but Child immediately captivated me with the quality of the photography, writing and content. I love their columns and focus on providing a happy childhood for my daughter with their tips on games, crafts and vacations. I'll admit that a lot of their products and clothing are ridiculously expensive, but I figure that it gives me a good idea of what I should look for in stores in my price range: Target & Ross. If you are looking for a child and parenting magazine that is different from everything else out there, then Child is for you!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Teething
"Child" is a lovely to look at magazine that reeks of quality. Sadly, though, it also reeks of pretension and $$$.

Anyone with the tiniest bit of a jealous streak will go apoplectic perusing even a few pages. Every mother pictured is drop-dead gorgeous (in a "freak of nature" kind of way), all the children are attired in clothing that requires a second mortgage, and fathers are obviously tycoons that sold off their dot-com business for several billion and now just tend the yacht. Every house is furnished with the original Scandinavian furniture that IKEA rips off so elegantly for those of us who can't fly to Denmark to get the originals. The ads are clearly aimed at those willing to buy handcrafted Italian strollers and $500 seersucker suits for junior's Easter appearance at church.

This is no exaggeration. A recent edition looked at the best spas for expectant mothers to visit. Another article capped boys' fashions with a pair of $90 shorts. And lastly, a recommended hotel for moms to get away with their girlfriends is The Four Seasons in Chicago. It's only $1200 a night. And while Hoover or even Dyson might advertise in your "normal" parenting magazines, Electroluxe gets the nod here.

The magazine, as noted, is easy on the eyes and probably wins mountains of design awards. Every page has a clean sense of style that cops a European sensibility. The articles fall into the category of nothing over twenty-five hundred words (with most articles around a thousand or fifteen hundred), keeping the magazine in line with all the others who have adopted the short attention span style made popular by USA Today--but always with that exclusive country club feel. The total pages are a bit over a hundred fifty and the ads don't overwhelm the actual content (although it the average reader might find it difficult to separate the two.)

Anyone wanting to know how the children of the other half live should pick up "Child." For those of us who shop at JC Penney, stick with something less tony.

GReat mag...one of my favoirtes
CHILD is the InStyle of Kids fashion, kid-related housewares and cooking and craft ideas. I love the format and the asthetics of the layout really appeal to me. This is a classy mag at a VERY affordable price.

A magazine to make (real) moms feel bad...
My subscription to Child just expired. Despite the dozens of cards that the magazine sent to my house to entice me to resubscribe, I held my ground and decided not to renew (I'm picking up Parents again, though).
My daughter is almost a year and a half old. I am a full time professional and a full time mom. My time is valuable and I appreciate helpful parenting tips and creative ideas for quality time with my daughter. If you're looking for the same thing... Avoid this magazine!
My friends and I compare this magazine to Living (the Martha Stewart magazine). It's beautiful. The ideas, if you actually have time to do them, look amazing. But I'm a real world mom with real world constraints. I don't have time to whip up Halloween costumes from scratch using silk shantung (yes, the magazine actually suggested it in the October 2003 edition) - and quite frankly, I don't have dresses made of shantung in my own closet. Meals for my daughter are simple and while I love to cook, I won't be hunting in the aisles for barley flour or smelt to make homemade bread for my family.
The outfits are beautiful, but again, they aren't realistic options for most folks. I am an attorney (my husband is, too). We do okay financially. I like for my daughter to look nice, and we dress her well... But $80 for a sweater for a toddler? $75 for a pair of pants? C'mon. Many of the "featured" outfits cost more than my best dress suit! Again, cute but not practical.
And the articles about parenting and health care? I don't find them helpful at all; most often, I find them condescending. A recent feature on busy schedules completely ignored the plight of the working mom altogether. Another feature on better sleep patterns for children focused on extreme sleep disorders, rather than offering practical advice for the majority of families.
This magazine isn't about real families. Where are the arts and crafts with macaroni? What about homemade play dough? Not in this magazine. And free time? My daughter likes to play in leaf piles and finger paint, not sit quietly at formal events.
Maybe somewhere, some moms enjoy this magazine. It seems to have generated some fairly high reviews on this site. However, my friends and I give it a thumbs down. After every issue, I felt like I was the world's worst mom. And the time I spent thumbing through the issue? I could have spent that time with my daughter.
The bottom line: All style and no substance. Spend your money elsewhere.

A good, serious publication for parents
I like this magazine for a lot of reasons, but my admiration is primarily for their willingness to provide solid, thoughtful reporting without pandering to the lowest-common-denomiator reader. This is not to say it's a high-brow publication--it's not. Rather, Child carefully avoids publishing the type of mindless pap that so many parenting publications pack into every issue (i.e., "25 Ways to Tie your Shoes!" or "Picnics with Peanut Butter!" or "What Your Child's Doctor Won't Tell You About Lice!"). Child is a well written, well designed magazine that is readable, informative and, frankly, cheap. I can't ask for more than that! ... Read more

Abstract

A magazine aimed at the working mother that includes articles on recent news of note, food and nutrition, features on children of different ages, work and money and taking care of yourself.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

FamilyTreeMagazine is jammed full of information
I really love this magazine because, first of all, I love Genealogy! And this magazine is a great source of information whether you are just starting out on your family search or if you've been hitting the archives for years.
And it is WEB oriented which is just what I'm looking for as I do a lot of research online. Family Tree Magazine always has new or important search tips. I learned to check characteristics of old photos for clues in narrowing a search for birth years when you don't have an exact date. Then I looked in the census for years around that time period to find the person I was looking for. ... Read more

Abstract

Covers teaching and caring for infants to 5 years of age.Includes professional tips, activity plans, new "Kindergarten Teacher" pages and punch out tasks.
... Read more

Abstract

For Washington-area parents with children through the early teen years.Provides articles focusing on child development, education and health, while serving as a source of information about community goods and services.
... Read more

Abstract

A magazine providing articles on adoption issues, parenting tips, and stories by and about adoptive families.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Must Have Magazine
Adoptive Families is a must have magazine for families created through adoption. I am currently waiting to travel to China to get my daughter, but I have already found this magazine to be invaluable. The great things is that all kinds of adoption are discussed, domestic, open, international. It is reassuring to know that there are so many other families that were created through adoption. You know you are not alone in what you are going through too. The advertising is great too!

Adoptive Families Magazine has Opened My Mind's Doors
When I received my first issue of Adoptive Families Magazine,
I could not wait to read it! It felt great to feel connected to
many of the writer's stories. My husband and I are waiting for our first American,adopted newborn and this magazine continues to educate us on the adoption process. I recognize a few of the magazine's writers and advisory committee members attending their lectures and through books they have written. Also, there are diverse viewpoints and laws that appear to be changing due to this network. After months researching adoption, I feel the adoption community in America is a kind of family and just beginning to grow.

Essential and enjoyable reading for adoptive parents
If you're an adoptive parent, you need to subscribe to Adoptive Families, which includes practical parenting advice, stories about or by adoptive parents, news on the latest federal and state laws, discussions of common problems, and so much more. Adoptive Families is also an important resource for people who are planning to adopt their first child (or second, third, and so on).

I've been a subscriber for years, and strongly recommend this publication.

Christine Adamec
Author, There ARE Babies to Adopt ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Real Life Pregnancy Magazine
EPregnancy is the best pregngncy magazine I've ever read. Each issue has real topics that cover my life, now.

They show me the best products and fashions.

No topic on pregnancy is missed. They tell me what to expect. That I can have fun and do great things. This is a wonderful time, make the most of it.

Check it out. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

interesting and thoughtful
A friend sent me the first issue of this magazine.I didn't know what to think of it since I don't really read Cosmo, Vogue or any of the standard women's magazines on a regular basis (just sometimes on airplanes).The articles are varied and interesting relating to issues that arise in relationship and often never discussed (bank accounts, fertility etc.).I would ditch the conditioner report.. didn't really get any useful info and it was too chaotic to be even interesting.It is heavier reading than the standard Cosmo fare and would definitely make good airplane reading!

Great magazine for the thinking woman
In my experience, you can never get really intelligent information about relationships in magazines. There is a little of this and a little of that in Glamour or Ladies Home Journal (Can this marriage be saved??? Well??) But why wasn't there an "expert" magazine like Bon Appetit is for food or Business Week is for business about relationships?Tango is that expert magazine.AND it's a lot of fun to read.

Essential Reading for the contemporary woman
Finally a magazine that tries to discuss the issues which are relevant to the all important relationship between a man and a woman without putting you to sleep. Many of you may have been tired to seeing all the magazines that are currently available for sale...a beautiful woman on the cover and an extremely superficial coverage of that so eye catching title on the cover page..makes you feel cheated if you bought the magazine or even spent the time to browse it.

Well Tango is different. Its founder Andrea Miller, started this magazine precisely because she found that there was no magazine that appealed to the intelligent woman reader and talked of the one issue that was most important to her, which was her relationship whether it be with her lover, her boyfriend, her fiance or her husband.

So what do you do with your man after you have grabbed him and start a long lasting relationship is what she and Tango set out to examine. Whether it is issues of women in the workplace or how couples manage money, how they can live together without driving each other crazy are all issues worthy of Tango and its readers..I have thoroughly enjoyed the premier issue that has a wonderful article on Desperate Housewives hunk Jamie Denton as a cover feature...very real and very not Cosmo for sure..this magazine is worth a look. ... Read more

Abstract

Features fiction and nonfiction of interest to the American family.Articles cover current events worldwide, sports, travel, peopleand other subjects of general interest.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

This Is a Joke, Right?
I was suprised to see that the Saturday Evening Post was still being printed. I happened to get a chance to examine a few of the "new" issues the other day. I guess they've gone through a format change from what I remember as the older magazines. It was almost like reading a satire of a badly made magazine. At first, I thought the magazines' only value could be the reprints of old artwork by Norman Rockwell and Liendecker. But the "new" material was so bad, it had to be done on purpose. I laughed out loud several times durring my review. I'd reccomend this magazine to anyone who enjoy the Sun, the Globe, the Weekly World News, or any print gurus who want to see how NOT to craft a magazine. It's a shame that they couldn't continue to make a respectable body of material for their readers. I'm sure Rockwell and Liendecker are rolling in their graves right about now.

Suitable for every age
I first read this magazine when I was a little girl; my grandmother kept some old issues in our Minnesota lake cabin and on rainy days, I would curl up on the sofa and pour over the articles. I still enjoy the recipes, the amusing articles and the comic pages. It's a treat to sit down and read it! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If this is the word of the Lord, I'd rather go to hell......
The parenting tool magazine, Plugged In may promote itself as being awareness about teenagers today- the morally questionable music, TV and films that they're choosing as entertainment, the activities they get up to and the subcultures they have formed.

But essentially what it all boils down to is something grossly disgusting- with morbid concentration it spends its time focusing and picking apart every little bit of fun outlandishness and liberal thinking, "immodest" fashion and harmless flirtation that teenagers do and telling them repeatedly how dirty and unloveable they are for it. Its abusive parenting to live by it. Raising children and teens to believe they can't do right for being wrong. Whether they want to find a partner or even just a friend of the opposite sex, or whether they want to challenge the War in Iraq, or even dance in a club.

Great
This magazine is a must have for all Christian parents, (especially of teenagers), Youth Pastors/Ministers/Directors, and youth counselors. It gives you the latest reviews on music and movies and gives you a head up on whether or not to allow your teens to see or listen to something before they even ask. The only ones who would think it was offensive or judgemental are those who are not Christians in the first place or those that are "straddling the fence" and trying to compromise their Christan values by being a friend to the world.

Very Informative
Plugged In is essentially an entertainment review magazine which takes on the task of spelling out which forms of entertainment may or may not be appropriate for a Christian household.
Most people's first reaction is to avoid anything that tries to tell them what they should and should not see or listen to. However, the writers at Plugged In don't automatically write off a particular movie, video game, tv show or CD simply because it doesn't promote the Bible. They take great care to break down the content and themes, usually leaving the reader informed enough to make their own decision. It is a quick read - I can usually skim the whole thing in about an hour. If you are curious what your kids are listening to, or if you don't want to be caught off guard by shocking material at the theatre with your family, this magazine is a wise choice.
Sound values, good writing. Check it out.

crap
this magazine is bad. They make everyone and everything that is non-religious sound like it's either possesed or influenced by Satan. When they rate something they automatically assume it's horrible and if there's something positive, there's a brief sentence about it. If there happens to be one little thing negative, then they write a paragraph or two on it. If you read this stuff, remember, nothing is as bad is this magazine makes it seem. ... Read more