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What to make:
My first task was deciding what kind of activity pack to make.
I wanted it to be frequently published, to encourage parents to come back to pick up the next one. I also wanted it to be free as that would add the the appeal and add a fun challenge for me to design.
The ways of making it free:
- free but include a list of materials for parents to buy.
- free but includes advertising.
- don't make it free but include all the materials.
I wanted it to be frequently published, to encourage parents to come back to pick up the next one. I also wanted it to be free as that would add the the appeal and add a fun challenge for me to design.
The ways of making it free:
- free but include a list of materials for parents to buy.
- free but includes advertising.
- don't make it free but include all the materials.
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Zine:
Similar vibe to other children's magazines. Easier for children to do the activities in them while going round the shops. Makes sense to include extra materials, like the 'free gifts' in other magazines. typically has around 32 pages, usually goes up in 8's due to how they're printed. Printed either A4- 210 × 297 mm, or A5 - 148 × 210 mm |
Newspaper:
Making a newspaper would provide a large area to draw instructions while leaving enough space for their own drawings. Makes a built in table cloth. You lay down newspaper already before kids crafts. Could also use the paper itself as material (paper mache or cut out masks, etc.) Averages about 40 pages. Tabloid size on newspaperclub - width 289mm x height 380mm. |
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Printing:
Zines commonly have more colour and thicker paper than newspapers. I will have to consider colour choices depending on which one I pick. https://mixam.co.uk/paperbackbooks: - 20 copies, full colour, recycled uncoated paper, 100gms 28 sides. - cover- recycled uncoated or silk, 300gsm https://www.newspaperclub.com/ I'll aim for about 16 pages in either a zine or newspaper. Maybe more if needed. |
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Potential website:
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It would be impractical to not have a website in this day and age, all examples of magazines I have found have websites.
A potential website for this magazine could include; video tutorials, tasks that involve more materials, a place to submit your artwork, a way to see others artwork, shop for previous issues. The aim of this project is to get kids to be creative doing physical activities, without the internet. So it would probably be best if the website is only for the parents to access. It would be small and only have video tutorials and back issues to buy. |
Things the website could include:
Physical things could have a QR code that leads to online resources. Website that could have archives of past activities. A page where people could post pictures of their own creations in some sort of basic social media. Youtube videos that would demonstrate how to do things. |
Art that appeals to children:
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https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rainbowrachel80/childrens-illust/
Common themes are; - round cartoony style - saturated colours - looks like its drawn with crayon or a paper cutout - perspective is wrong in a purposeful way. |
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Other activity packs:
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There are many examples of kids craft magazines already, however, they aren't aimed at the same audience I'm aiming for. You also can't see inside them unless you buy so I could only use them as inspiration for the front cover and overall vibe, not for ideas for activities.
Okido: A STEM science based magazine designed to educate. Includes a lot of colouring books. https://store.okido.com/pages/shop |
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Anorak:
A magazine full of games and stories, in a typical children's book style. Simple and appealing art style that changes slightly with each issue. anorakmagazine.com/collections/anorak-single-issues |
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The Phoenix:
Has a more comic book style. Bold and graphic, very clearly digitally drawn. www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/Shop/BackIssues |
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Storybox:
A reading and education magazine with different subscriptions for different age groups. https://bayardmagazines.com/collections/3/products/storybox |
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Toucan box:
Not a magazine but an activity box that arrives with all the materials needed for the tasks. Its seasonal activities is an idea I used for my own magazine. shop.toucanbox.com/ |
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I took some sneaky pictures of children's activity books in Waterstones to learn ways to present instructions in a way kids would engage with and understand.
Finally, I bought some copies of magazines available in newsagents. All of them were about £4 and I tried to avoid the ones with 'free' gifts.
I bought: Cbeebies Art - definitely aimed at my target demographic. I found this one very useful for learning how to plan a tutorial page. Came with a huge amount of art supplies and paper as well as stickers inside. National Geographic Kids - defiantly for an older audience as it was very wordy and tackled some difficult topics. Still useful for learning about page composition. Operation Ouch - bought purely because I used to love the show, it didn't have much relevance to my magazine but I had a good time reading it. The Happy News - defiantly not a kids or a magazine but still had nice art that inspired me and informed me on page composition. |
Potential activities:
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Due to wanting my magazine to be free, I need tasks that don't need specific materials that people wont have at home or only need what can be included in the magazine itself (eg; paper)
List of activities to do without specific equipment: https://www.toucanbox.com/activities/fun-things-to-do-at-home-with-your-kids - Paper puppet theatre - 3d pop ups - things involving tissue paper (would use the newspaper) - pasta necklace - cutout card game - cutout doll None craft activities: - a perfomance - role play Activities than need some materials: - sock rabbit/worm/other animal - wool/cotton wool crafts only needs paint: - bubble paint Needs glue: - Toilet roll tube crafts - paper mache |
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How to appeal to KS1:
I asked two teachers for some tips on engaging children and they told me;
- cutting, sticking and painting are always popular.
- 20-30 mins max for an organized activity.
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wehavekids.com/parenting/how-to-engage-children :
- challenges and games
- make sure they're making their own choices and doing what they want
- tell a story. could include a character that follows you through tasks or have all the tasks link together.
Vibe I want:
entertaining and funny but no gross out humour, not that popular anymore anyway.
educational but I don't want that to be the focus.
cartoony but not cutesy.
story throughout.
- cutting, sticking and painting are always popular.
- 20-30 mins max for an organized activity.
-
wehavekids.com/parenting/how-to-engage-children :
- challenges and games
- make sure they're making their own choices and doing what they want
- tell a story. could include a character that follows you through tasks or have all the tasks link together.
Vibe I want:
entertaining and funny but no gross out humour, not that popular anymore anyway.
educational but I don't want that to be the focus.
cartoony but not cutesy.
story throughout.
Things I personally enjoyed as a child:
- Details to get absorbed in
- some sort of mascot character that would follow you through the pages
- Details to get absorbed in
- some sort of mascot character that would follow you through the pages
Potential themes:
- nature
- space
- fantasy
- ocean
- history
- dinosaurs
- various points in history (horrible histories style)
- seasonal
- spring; flowers, insects, picnics
- summer; beach, tropical, holidays
- autumn; colours, leaves, mushrooms, food
- winter; snow, celebrations, gifts
I randomized two themes to focus on; space and spring.
- nature
- space
- fantasy
- ocean
- history
- dinosaurs
- various points in history (horrible histories style)
- seasonal
- spring; flowers, insects, picnics
- summer; beach, tropical, holidays
- autumn; colours, leaves, mushrooms, food
- winter; snow, celebrations, gifts
I randomized two themes to focus on; space and spring.
Parents:
I want this project to be a way to inspire those who wouldn't usually choose creative activities, this means that I need to find a way to appeal and attract these parents.
One way to do this would be the entrance of a supermarket, next to the magazines or free newspapers. Everyone goes to supermarkets so it would reach more people and could double as entertainment to occupy kids while shopping if I include activities you could do with just a pencil.
Parents who don't normally do creative activities may be more drawn to something free. However, I would have more freedom when creating tasks if it cost money or needed materials I could include or have the parents buy, even if this may turn people away from it.
One way to do this would be the entrance of a supermarket, next to the magazines or free newspapers. Everyone goes to supermarkets so it would reach more people and could double as entertainment to occupy kids while shopping if I include activities you could do with just a pencil.
Parents who don't normally do creative activities may be more drawn to something free. However, I would have more freedom when creating tasks if it cost money or needed materials I could include or have the parents buy, even if this may turn people away from it.