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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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 |
The Phoenix:
Has a more comic book style. Bold and graphic, very clearly digitally drawn. www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/Shop/BackIssues |
Storybox:
A reading and education magazine with different subscriptions for different age groups. https://bayardmagazines.com/collections/3/products/storybox |
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/ |
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. |
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 |