I subscribe to the Clubhouse Jr. and Clubhouse magazines for me. Clubhouse Jr. is written for kids four- to eight-year-olds. Clubhouse is targeted for eight- to twelve-year-olds. I’ve been told that many young teens, thirteen and fourteen years old also read the magazine. Even though I am way past the ages for which the magazines are targeted, I’m a fan. I have been for years. These kids’ magazines are fun; they are informative, and they are good food for a child’s soul.
Today I want to give you a better idea of what a child can find if you subscribe for him/her. The theme for their March issues is humor. Clubhouse Jr. opens with this thought: “God is not grumpy. He has a sense of humor. He created us to laugh.”
The first story is “Snakes and Stones.” It is a gentle, humorous short story that shows us Jesus telling a group of people that God is like a good father who gives His children good gifts, not stones or snakes. A boy listening to Jesus later plays a joke on his family using stones and a stick. This story helps young children put Jesus’ words in the context of a familiar setting and shows children the sweetness and joy of His rich heart. Another short story—a cute, cute fantasy–involves the misadventure of two talking kangaroo rats. In the end children learn there is a big difference between laughing at someone and laughing together.
And there is more fun stuff in the magazine. This issue has a recipe for making pretzels that can be decorated to look like funny faces. There are also how-tos for silly games that families can play together. And then there are the funny and fun to do activity pages. Activity pages like these are regular features of the magazine.
I’ve noticed that the editors of the magazine believe that kids like serious fun too. Kids like to learn about God’s creation and His creatures. The March issue spotlights creatures that are “Super Slimy.” And concludes with the thought “… just because something is funny or gross, it doesn’t mean God didn’t create them with a purpose. Instead of giggling or making fun of things that are different, learn more about them. Then you can appreciate the awesome ways God designed the world.”
You will have to read Clubhouse Jr. to younger children, but those of school age who are learning to read will find that parts of the magazine they can read on their own. And the more they see they can read, the more they will want to read.
Clubhouse, Focus on the Family’s magazine for older children, has a number of regular features that I just love. It has a kid detective two-page mystery. The solution is on a different page and so kids are challenged to use their smarts. Focus on the Family gathered a group of these stories into a book I reviewed, Jones & Parker Case Files.
Another regular feature of the magazine is a page of jokes and riddles. You and the kids will groan over these puns and knock-knock jokes sometimes, but it’s worthwhile groaning. Clubhouse also regularly has a one-pager that recounts the misadventures of Average Boy, a pre-teener with a knack for comic experiences. This month “Average Boy” learns something about when to let his comic skills shine and when to restrain himself. (He admits that he may still have some learning to do.)
The magazine often has quizzes. In the March issue a reader can discover what kind of humor he/she has. Humor can be tricky. We all know that, and kids are learning it. While affirming each type of humor, the quiz gives its readers info about how to know when each kind of humor can go too far. Quizzes in other issues have helped kids think about managing their time, looking at the kind of friend they are, etc.
Like Clubhouse Jr., Clubhouse also looks into the world God has created. In Clubhouse that often means humans. In “What’s so Funny about Your Funny Bone?” in the March issue kids learn something about the nerves in their bodies.
There’s a lot more that is fun and interesting in this issue—stories, puzzles, recipes, comic strips, profiles of kids and adults serving God, and more, but this should give you some idea of what’s in this issue and the kind of material you and your child might expect to find in future issues.
Clubhouse Jr. and Clubhouse are so much fun they will encourage your kids to read, and we all want the kids to read. But we want them to read the good stuff, right? These magazines can be included in the good stuff.
You can subscribe at: FocusOnTheFamily.com/kidsmags
Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.) I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue are her most recent works. These novels are mysteries for kids, ages 10 to 13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.