This New For Us Friday I’m sharing a new-for-Cora activity and a new-for-us event: the fab, super-fun magazine hunt and Highlight’s State of the Kid Survey, which involved a press event that Cora and I attended together in the city.
With being in DC three times in four days last week, on top of playdates, homework, holidays, an injured Bradyboy, dive and dance, and soccer, things have been quite busy over here. But Cora and I have managed to find some time to do some reading together.
And hunting.
And searching.
And getting to know one of our favorite publications for children–Highlights and High Five.
Talk about a rockin’ New For Us Friday!
Here’s the skinny:
Magazine Hunt 2.0:
Maddy, Owen, and I loved magazine hunting a few years back, but at that time, it was too much to tackle for my then-2 year old Cora.
But now that she’s a fantabulous four-year-old, the magazine hunt was right up her alley. I didn’t make a huge deal about it–I can’t because Cora doesn’t roll like that–I just casually brought out a High Five from Highlightsone day and started flipping through in in her bedroom.
I love this magazine, I said. It’s really pretty cool. I know Owen and Maddy love it, too. My favorite part is the comics and the crafts. I kept flipping.
I had already grabbed our bag of Magazine Hunt Cards (grab them to download below as a pdf if you’d like), and I oh-so-casually flipped one over. Oh my gosh–I remember these magazine hunt cards!! Maddy and Owen loved these, too–it kind of makes reading a magazine like a scavenger hunt, like a game.
See? This card says ‘Table of Contents’ with a hint at the bottom: ‘It is near the front. It lists the page numbers and articles.’And because magazines are organized a little bit differently than books or newspapers, this hunt is a fun way of seeing that.
Cora is on a hidden picture hunt.
She said, Oh, I remember this magazine. Owen loves those pictures. The hidden pictures.
I flipped through until I found the Hidden Pictures, and she jumped up for a pen. Let’s do it! she said.
Sweet. We worked through the Hidden Pictures together, and I reminded her to put an ‘X’ over the object she finds on the right page and an ‘O’ over the object within the picture. (A super-sneaky way of getting her to practice her x’s and o’s!!) When she finished finding everything, I found the Hidden Pictures card in the pile and flipped it over. Okay, you found and completed one thing! Woo-hoo!
I flipped the next card, and it was for Silly Pictures. I said, Oh my gosh, ‘High Five’ also has Silly Pictures! Let’s find it and circle everything silly!
We circled the silly dog and the silly squirrel and the silly bird in a bath and the silly this and the silly that, and then we flipped through the magazine, doing the mazes, reading poems, and just chatting it up. Little did Cora know that all the while, she was learning about concepts of print during this little magazine hunt; she was practicing early literacy skills by pointing out words here and there, and she was doing tons of fine motor work in her circles, checks, and maze following.
Awe-some.
And before we knew it, it was time to head up to the school during the brief bit of sunshine, pick up Maddy and Owen, and move into the next part of the day. . .
Editor in Chief of Highlights, Christine French
Highlights State of the Kid Survey:
One of the things I love most about Highlights is that the magazine receives thousands and thousands and thousands of letters and emails from kids, and the editors read and respond to each and every note. They’ve done it for 65 years. I love it.
“One of the most powerful things we can do for children is to really listen to them,” says Christine French, Editor in Chief of Highlights magazine. I love that this publication takes children seriously, really listening to them and taking time to acknowledge their queries.
And for the last three years, Highlights has gone one step further, giving kids a national platform to share their thoughts, concerns, and experiences related to major issues at hand: school, friends, parents, siblings, bullies, and more, with the State of the Kid Survey.
Take a second and view the quick clip of Christine French talking about the Survey at the Press Event that Cora and I attended; it’s interesting, enlightening, and surprising.
It reminded me of how observant kids are, how much children remember, and how important it is to really listen to our kids–especially during crazy busy weeks like the one our family just muddled through.
It reminded me of the importance of remaining gender-neutral with Maddy, Owen, and Cora and not to corner them into ‘girl’ activities or ‘boy’ activities. It reminded me to have the bullying discussion openly and often with my children–reminding them of the best ways of handling bullies, sticking up for victims, and to make them understand that bullying comes in many different forms.
It reminded me of many things, but most importantly it reinforced for me the quality of this publication and the people behind it. Thanks, Highlights!
Grab the Magazine Hunt!
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I would love to have a subscription to High Five for my grandson. He is 4 1/2 years old and he love the hidden pictures the most. Thanks for the offer.
We would love to start the Magazine Hunt in High Five Mag!!!
I would love a subscription to either but I think High Five would fit Violet better. Every day she leads me through her learning every day. She’s three and has a passion for reading and learning. She definitely keeps me busy and on my toes all day long. She shares most of her day between loving the dog and reading books.
Thanks for the opportunity for her to learn more.
I shared the link with my MOMS group. There’s a good selection that homeschool and some that have handfuls at home like me.
I would love a subscription to High-Five!
sharonsaad@gmail.com
My son has totally enjoyed the High Five Magazine his grandparents bought for him last year. When it comes in the mail he must sit down and go through the whole magazine more than once. When his dad comes home from work they do it again!!! He is turning 5 and ready to move up to the big kid version Highlights. We would love to win. ecirmg@aol.com
I think High Five would be perfect for my two preschool granddaughters who I babysit. I used Highlights in my classroom when I taught school.
We would love a subscription to High 5. I have a 4 and a 2 year old who I would greatly enjoy reading through it with. I love the idea of the magazine hunt!
my kids would love a highlights subscription! We have 4 homeschooling kids here ranging from 3 – 14 yrs old
Oh. Em. Gee! I LOVE Highlights! I have been wanting to get this for my kiddos, but it’s out of our budget right now. Honestly, I would love one of each (I have a 6,4, and 2yo), but if I had to choose, I would probably go for the High Five so we could all enjoy it.
My six year old adores highlights! We’ve never had the money for a subscription but she loves reading her friend’s copies!
Thank you for this great giveaway!
We would love a subscription to High Five!
I would love to get a subscription for High five for my triplets who love reading
I would love to be able to share this magazine with my Son Garrett. He is just now in kindergarten and it seems that we are struggling with the lack of time with Mom and the lack of “play” time. THis would be a great way to combine both of those with a little bit of learning
Thanks
I would love to win Hive Five for both my daughter and my first grade class!
I shared this post through email with my fellow teachers 🙂
I shared this post on Facebook
I’d love to win High-Five because our son is 4 and our baby would be able to enjoy the issues as well as she gets older 🙂
HEATHERLBRANDT (AT) FRONTIER (DOT) COM
I loved Highlights when I was a kid! I would like to enjoy it with my daughter now that she is old enough. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I think my daughter and my son would love the High Five!
I will like to have an subscription for my 4 and 5 year childern,my daughter didnt get into preschool, so Im home schooling her myself(im not a teacher) and I think this magazine will be great.
I would love a subscription of High 5 for my 3 kids. My two oldest love the magazine!
I’d love to win High Five to read along with my 2 and 3.5 year-olds!
I would LOVE a subscription to High Five…Levi (2 1/2) and Cora (16 months) would really enjoy reading it with me and together!
Yes, PLEASE! Someone gave us a copy of a High Five magazine and we love it! We are a family of adventurers in learning – some younger ( 3-year-old twins) and some older (me, the mama) – and we would put a subscription to this magazine to good use. What a treasure that would be!
I’d love a High Five subscription, I keep threatening to get one for the kids, but haven’t followed through yet. My kids would read it, the boys are 6 and the girl is 4 (almost 5, how’d that happen).
Awesome! This is a tough decision…Lucas is 5, so kinda’ right in the middle of the two, but I think High 5 would be great because then Nathaniel can enjoy it soon also.
I was just thinking about Highlights last week, reminiscing about how I loved this magazine as a kid! As my two daughters quickly approach 2, I thought this would be a perfect subscription to purchase. Then I learned about High Five! The High Five looks perfect for them! Thank you for sharing and thanks for the chance to win, win, win! I’ve got my fingers crossed on this one.
I loved Highlights when I was young. This would be so fun to win for my 7 year old!
I would totally want to win the Highlights Mag. We had it for a year but didn’t renew it…wish we had. We do still have High Five coming, though. We’ve got that one since the very first issue! My oldest, 7 yrs. old, would be reading the Highlights.
We would love a subscription to Highlights at our house. Our 7-year-old daughter could read it, and share it with her 7-year-old cousin.
fun! we love highlights! b has her own subscription, so we need an extra one for J! seriously, she hoards her magazines. (we have issues; we’re okay with it!)
We would love to continue our soon ending subscription to Highlights Hi-Five. Both my 5 year old and 3 year old daughters love the magazine.
I woulde LOVE a subscription to High-Five for my daughter. We get these from the library and she can’t get enough of them.
High Five would be perfect for my Almost five and almost 3 year olds.
It would be great to win a subscription to the High Five magazine. I would be reading it with my 2 year old little boy.
I’d love Highlights for my son!
I would love to win a Highlights subscription for my kindergartener!
I bet my son would love High Five. It looks like a great magazine! Thanks,
Julie
I’d go for Highlights High-5 for my almost-4-y-o. I loved Highlights as a kid, but I haven’t been able to stomach the $30+ price tag.
My kids love the High Five magazine. They always want to try the recipes at the end. We would love to win a subscription.
High Five for my kindergartner! ☺
i think what you are doing is awesome. i already have a subscription to high five- but what a way to really get more use out of them. Just wanted to let you k now that.
thanks so much, Chantell–totally appreciate your kind words. . . and maybe you want a subscription for another year? or to highlights? thanks for reading–and thanks for writing, my friend.
I would love a subscription of Hligh Five for my 2 1/2 yr. old son. He is always excited to learn. This would probably be more up his alley than my food network magazine that we usually “read” together! 🙂
I would love a subscription to High Five for *my* little Cora 🙂 (Love that name!)
Oh and I shared with my friend Jen!
JUST Monday my daughter took her Highlights to school to read during “free time”. her teacher asked to borrow her magazines each month to share with the class. i told my daughter we would find a way to get her teacher her own subscription. this is FATE 🙂 we would love to gift a HIGHLIGHTS subscription to Ms. Miller! we currently subscribe to Highlights and Hi-5. You rock for this giveaway!
JUST Monday my daughter took her Highlights to school to read during “free time”. her teacher asked to borrow her magazines each month to share with the class. i told my daughter we would find a way to get her teacher her own subscription. this is FATE 🙂 we would love to gift a HIGHLIGHTS subscription to Ms. Miller! we currently subscribe to Highlights and Hi-5. You and Highlights Magazine rock for this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/#!/QueenBeeTo3/status/124482384166002688
https://www.facebook.com/sevena.felton/posts/114367015338331
sharing via email with friends who are homeschool moms
i would love the subscription to High Five for my sons. Brigham {3 1/2} Oliver {2 1/2} and Henry {1 month…} when we do reading time the boys ALWAYS want to include baby!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
i tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/gimmiegiveaways/status/124486263150612480
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
i shared this post on my fb page!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
i told my friend sarah about the giveaway!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
I would love to win the Highlights subscription! I have a 5 and 7 year old, so it would be consumable by both of them. I have considered subscribing in the past, but money is always so tight…as it is for everyone. I grew up reading Highlights in the doctor and dentists offices and would love to have it at home instead!
I would love the Highlights subscription for my 5 1/2 yr old and my 8 yr old to share. They found some old Highlights magazines at a yard sale this summer and are in love with the magazine. They couldn’t believe that their mom used to read the same magazine soooo long ago. =)
I shared this post with my classroom aide!
High 5 for my almost two yr old would be AWESOME!!
I posted on my Creative and Curious Kids! facebook page.
jen
loveforlit@comcast.net
i shared with my friends and family on my personal facebook page.
jen
loveforlit@comcast.net
I have a little guy who will soon be three. I think I’d prefer the Highlights magazine because it’s the one I know. He absolutely loves finding old Highlights at the thrift store, so I know he’d love getting it in our mailbox.
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com
I would love High Five for my 3 and 5 year old.
We have just finished 2 years of High Five’s. And when the last magazine is used I think it’s time for my almost 7 year old Lucy to move on to Highlights. I loved them as a kid, she loves High Five……the tradition continues : )
We would love this! My son (4 years old) and daughter (2 years old) love this magazine. We love all features of the magazine.
Thanks so much,
Caterina
Evan loved High Five and is ready for Highlights. We’d looooove that five-year subscription!
High Five would be so much fun for my almost 5 year old – she loves to spend time on similar activities.
I would LOVE the highlights Magazine. I have three children that will LOVE this… Bradey, MaryElla, and Lucy!!
I think my daughter would enjoy Highlights.
We’d love High Five!
My 5 and 9 year old sons would love Highlights.
would love the High Five for my niece and nephew. Thanks so much.
I am sure my two year old little man would love to get High Five. His brother and sister get their own magazines…why not him?!
Shared on my Facebook page.
Shared on Melinda Cowell’s Facebook page!