Grrr..."teen" magazines! (Mom venting!)

[Princess Dot]

I posted some time back asking for suggestions for a good magazine to subscribe to for an 11 year old. I was just so baffled by all of what I would call "adult" content in magazines directed at teens. Yes I know 11 is not a teenager, but it almost is and a lot of what is in these mags are things that interest 11 year olds, like the fashion tips, celebrity and music news, etc. But every one from Seventeen to Teen People has articles about sex, birth control, teen pregnency, date rape...you name it.

To me, these kinds of articles are more suited to regular Cosmo or even Glamour or some of the other regular women's magazines. I know by the time I was in high school, we were reading Cosmo and boy was that an eye opener!

Anyway, I was just in the supermarket and I picked up Teen Vogue which had the girl that plays Hermione from Harry Potter on it. I'm flipping through it thinking "great this looks like something she'd like" all kinds of articles and pictures on fashion and how to dress for your body type and things like that.

But oh boy, here come the requisite "sex" article, about birth control. Why does every teen magazine feel the need to adress sex in every issue? I'm not even sure that this article was listed on the cover. Maybe I am just very innocent here or maybe it is just that these magazines are just made for older teens. When my DD is 17 or 18 I would be more comfortable with her reading articles like this, but not at 13 and 14.

May be there is just a real need for a "tween" magazine that has all the contents of these magazines but minus the sex.

BTW, I am going to order American Girl magazine for her, but I am still on the look out for other ones.

Again, this was just a vent. Thanks for listening!

 

[lulugirl]

I think the magazines you mentioned are geared towards older teens.
Why the sex/birth control articles? Unfortunately a large majority of teens are having sex, I hope these articles are providing accurate information.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Maybe you could pick up a copy of J-14?? My sister (she's 15) reads that every so often and I've looked at it. It has the stuff like fashion and a lot of celebrity stuff, and none of the sex stuff. I might give that a try- I think your daugther would like it.

 

[Aneille]

At 11 only you know what your daughter is ready to read and maybe there should be a magazine made for kids between 9-11, but then it would probably be too young for the 11 year old. At 11 I can see where you are hesitating.

I haven't picked up any of these magazines recently but if the articles about sex are factual and not glorified articles then I guess I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Some kids may feel more comfortable reading about these things themselves at first then discussing it with Mom and Dad.

Maybe you can read the magazine first then hand it over to your daughter to read and follow up with her to discuss some things that are in there.

And I think it is completly appropriate for 13/14 year olds to be reading those articles and I wouldn't hestitate at all at that age because as the poster above me said, they are having sex at that age.

At 11 yrs I can understand your frustration though in finding something that is acceptable to both you and her.

I hope you can find something.

 

[lulugirl]

PS...I think you are correct, there is a need for a "tween" magazine.
My children are still very young, but my girlfriends tell me that the magazines on the newstands are either too mature (seventeen and the like) or too young (nickelodeon).

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oh, thought of another one my sister used to look at!! Discovery Girls magazine. I'm pretty sure that's geared toward the "tween" age.

Here's the link to what they say about Discovery Girls...

http://www.discoverygirls.com/aboutus.shtml

 

[Rex Rules]

Our DD gets Disney Adventures every month and she loves it! She keeps all of them and refers back to them often. I have to hound her a bit to do her required reading for school - but never with the Disney mag. Also, I have never found anything remotely what I would consider risque topics for DD who is 11.

 

[horseshowmom]

www.briomag.com (clothes, make-up, boys, etc.)

www.clubhousemagazine.com (girls ages 8-12) (more of an activity/game type of magazine)

These are published by Focus on the Family which is a faith based organization. I like both of the magazines, but some people may prefer something else.

 

[we3disneygo]

my dd is 11 she will turn 12 before Christmas and she gets American Girl.

 

[nsyncraider17]

http://www.girlslife.com/

When I was a pre teen, I used to read Girls Life. It was put out by Girl Scouts I think, but wasn't focused on it. It was a really good magazine for in between American Girl and the typical teen magazines. The most risque thing I remember reading was an article about how to ask your mom for your first bra. This was about 8 years ago, so I can't guarantee that it's still like that, but from the website it still looks like it's not as mature as the other teen magazines. Hopefully you'll find something!

 

[sleepyone]

I can't even remember the magazine I used to read when I was around 11 years old but, my mom subscribed to one and she read it before I did and tore out the things she didn't approve of. Maybe, that could be an option for you and your dd.

 

[BillSears]

I was also going to reccomend Girls Life. My daughter had a subsciption to it around that age.

 

[tkd lisa]

My DD reads Girls Life too. I don't think it's by Girl Scouts, but GSA does have a Girl's Life Girl Scout edition. The articles in GL seem to be more about girls' friendships. Thinks like "How much are you and your best friend alike?" etc.

My mom got my DD a guidepost for teens magazine recently, and DD likes it too.

 

[jlaspoq]

Love American Girl and Disney Adventures.

Also we get National Geographic Kids, Cousteau Kids, lots of horse magazines (Practical Horseman, Horse ILlustrated, used to get Young Rider).

They're all great!

 

[missypie]

Interesting thread. DD turns 13 next month and will soon outgrow American Girl. The other day I paged through several "teen" magazines at Wal Mart and was disgusted!

 

[SC Minnie]

DD 11 loves Disney Adventure. She can't wait for the next issue every month. I got her a subscription for American Girl and she rarely read them-- nothing like DA

I understand your frustration with the content of the teen mags. DD is not ready for the sex articles (nor I am ready for her to be )

WHen I was about 13 or so I got this magazine called Young Miss or something like that. I don't remember racey articles (although it was a long time ag) but it had fashion and make up tips and stuff like that. I don't know if they still publish it or not.

 

[Freyja]

Like so many other have pointed out the need for sex-education at a very young age is becoming more and more important. Frankly, I would be happy if my DD would read such articles at that age, if the articles are factual and imformative. Next year we will have to attend a "family evening" at our sons school where we will discuss sexual behaviour of teenagers, and he is now almost 11!!!

I must admit, I was kind of surprised when I learned of this, but then again I was 15 when I got pregnant with him...

 

[Princess Dot]

Thanks for the great suggestions!

Hey I remember something like "Young Miss". There was also Teen Magazine, which I think is still around.

I don't mind some body issue stuff, like chosing bras or getting your period etc, but I really think that the birth control/pregnancy/sex with your boyfriend is just too much for this age ( and for me I think even when she is 13, 14 too). I realize that teens out there are having sex and I am all for giving information, importantly correct information, but I just wish it did not have to be in every teen magazine. Heck, I even get annoyed when my MIL gets Redbook and it shouts on the cover "How to have the best sex ever!!"
Sheesh, sometimes I need a break from all sex all the time being shoved in my face.

Boy I sound like a real prude! I thinks its been a looong day! LOL!

Thanks again!

 

[tiff211]

My dd is 14 and I am still not totally comfortable with her reading Seventeem and others without reading them first. I don't have time to read my own subscriptions as it is. I may check out J-14. I was looking for a mag subscipt. for X-mas for her anyway!

 

[ElizK]

my dd is 11 she will turn 12 before Christmas and she gets American Girl.

My 13 year old still loves her American Girl mag!